Lewis Hamilton's sorrow extended far beyond the mere defeat in the race. During the fateful 13th lap of the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, the British Formula One racer, who pilots for Ferrari, inadvertently ran over a groundhog, evoking a profound sense of melancholy as he realized the tragic encounter with the unsuspecting creature. "I didn't witness it," Hamilton remarked subsequent to the June 15th race, according to ESPN, "but I was informed that I had struck a groundhog."
While the collision might have been a contributing factor to his race loss and left a noticeable dent on the right underside of his vehicle, the 40-year-old, whose transition to veganism in 2017 was partly fueled by concerns for animal welfare, was deeply troubled by the harm inflicted upon the innocent animal. "It's heart-wrenching," he continued, recalling his initial optimism before the race. "I hold a profound affection for animals, and this is incredibly distressing. Such an incident has never occurred to me here before."
Even discounting the collision, Hamilton, who ultimately secured sixth place after Lando Norris retired due to a clash with Oscar Piastri, hinted at pre-existing issues with his Ferrari during the 70-lap race. "Considering all that, and the brake malfunction halfway through, plus our probable overstay after the first pit stop that placed us behind the pack, it was a cascade of challenges," he explained. "So, I'm grateful just to have crossed the finish line."
While Hamilton's unexpected wildlife encounter was not solely responsible for his setback, it was hardly the first time a groundhog has disrupted a race at Montreal's Ile Notre-Dame, home to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. In 2007, Super Aguri driver Anthony Davidson's race was similarly derailed by a groundhog, forcing him to pit for a new front wing and ultimately finishing in eleventh place. A decade later, in 2018, Romain Grosjean found himself in a similar predicament during practice for that year's Grand Prix.
"I'm astonished they didn't relocate it," Grosjean commented at the time, as reported by ESPN. "It's tragic for the animal, undoubtedly, and equally regrettable for our front wing. With limited spare parts, losing a front wing in such a manner is quite disappointing." He added, "It felt like a significant impact. Had that occurred during the race, it would have been over – the damage was substantial."
