Lewis Hamilton saddened after hitting groundhog during F1 Canada race: “It’s horrible”

Lewis Hamilton expressed sadness after unintentionally running over a groundhog during the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. The incident occurred on the 13th lap of the race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a track known for its groundhog sightings over the years.

Hamilton, a seven-time Formula 1 world champion and outspoken animal advocate, reacted after the race: “I didn’t see it happen, but I heard I hit a groundhog, so that’s devastating. I love animals, so I’m so sad about it. It’s horrible.”

The British driver, who has followed a vegan lifestyle for several years, added, “It’s never happened to me here before. I just hope it didn’t suffer.”

The impact caused physical damage to the floor of Hamilton’s Scuderia Ferrari car, creating a hole on the right side. His team estimated the incident cost him about half-a-second per lap for the rest of the race. Hamilton ultimately finished in sixth place after dealing with both the floor damage and braking issues.

“It’s never nice to see that,” Hamilton said, reflecting on the impact of the unexpected incident both emotionally and technically. “I’m happy I could just finish.”

Reports from CBC and BBC confirm that groundhogs are a frequent presence at the Montreal circuit, where their population has been rising. Such encounters are not uncommon during races held there, with multiple past sightings and occasional incidents.