Pictured: A brave beaver tries to race Lewis Hamilton before he crashes out of grand prix

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 05:08 EST, 9 June 2008

A brave beaver was pictured as it tried to race alongside Lewis Hamilton's car - but it proved to be a bad omen for the driver who later crashed out of the Canadian Grand Prix.

The fearless creature was photographed scampering alongside Hamilton's car as he got in some practice for yesterday's big race.

As Hamilton sped round the track the chubby rodent hurtled as fast as it could down the tarmac.

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Brave: A beaver races alongside Lewis Hamilton during a practice run

The semi-aquatic creature seemed unfazed by the roar of the engine as Hamilton's car overtook it.

And the beaver was later spotted lurking in grass at the side of the track on Friday.

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Keen: The beaver sits at the side of the track

Hamilton was branded 'stupid' after his horrific pit-stop blunder lost him yesterday's race and cost him 10 places at the next race.

The McLaren racer drove straight into the back of the world champion Kimi Raikkonen as he tried to re-enter the circuit following refuelling, despite a red light telling him to stop.

The 45 mph impact brought an end to both their races.

Just the pits: Hamilton crashes into Kimi Raikkonen's car

Hamilton was punished by the stewards with a 10-place grid penalty for the French race in a fortnight, while Raikkonen was scathing, saying: 'I saw the red light and chose to stop. Unfortunately, someone else saw it and chose not to stop.

'If I go 300km an hour and lose control and hit somebody, it is natural. But if I do it in the pit lane under a speed limit and two cars are stopped in front of me, it is stupid.'

Last week Hamilton's father crashed his £330,000 Porsche into a children's playground.

Crashed out: Lewis Hamilton gets out of his car during yesterday's Canadian Grand Prix

Anthony Hamilton was 200 metres from his home in Tewin, Hertfordshire, when he lost control of the vehicle and ploughed across a grass verge.

The silver Porsche Carrera GT was left with a broken rear light and two large cracks in the body work below it.