Groundhog Accident at Canadian Grand Prix Leaves Hamilton Depressed
Fashioning a New Narrative
Dubai: Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champ, was left crestfallen following an unexpected encounter at the Canadian Grand Prix. On June 15, 2025, Hamilton's race took an unforeseen twist when he collided with a groundhog on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal.
"The day was promising, managing tires felt hopeful, but then I didn't spot it happening, yet after hearing I'd hit a groundhog, my heart sank. I've got a soft spot for critters, so this was just heart-wrenching. Absolutely gutting," Hamilton shared, finishing the race in a discouraging sixth place.
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"Nothing like this has transpired here earlier. The floor's right side suffered severe damage, a gaping hole, and the veins too—totally drained. Later, we encountered a brake issue too," he added.
His 40-year-old self crossing the finish line in the sixth spot, the team estimating the damage from the groundhog collision, cost Hamilton around half-a-second per lap, impacting his performance for the rest of the race.
Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, remarked, "It's no lie that we brushed against a marmot. It was around the 9th lap of the first stint. We wrecked the front part of the floor, losing almost 20 points of downforce. Hopefully, our balance didn't take a big hit, but we lost quite a bit of speed."
The crownultimate victory in this race went to George Russell of Mercedes, with Max Verstappen of Red Bull playing the runner-up.
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Note: Groundhogs are often present in the areas surrounding Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and collisions with these mammals have occurred on multiple occasions.
Also, the groundhog collision likely hindered Hamilton's chances of securing a podium finish as he had been optimistic.
Sources: [1], [2], [3]
Hamilton's unexpected collision with a groundhog during the Canadian Grand Prix not only left a visible impact on his car's appearance, but also affected his career, as the incident cost him around half-a-second per lap and potentially hindered his chances of securing a podium finish. In sports news, George Russell of Mercedes clinched the crownultimate victory, while Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished as runner-up.
