Lewis Hamilton Hits Groundhog, Suffers Ferrari Damage at Canadian GP

During the Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Lewis Hamilton unintentionally struck a groundhog on lap 12, which caused significant damage to the right side of his Ferrari's floor, leading to a loss of approximately 20 points of downforce. Hamilton, who started fifth and finished sixth, was visibly upset upon learning about the incident, expressing his love for animals and devastation over the groundhog's death. The damage, along with brake issues and challenging pit stop timing, hampered his performance and contributed to a difficult race. Hamilton noted this was his first such incident at the track, a location known for occasional wildlife intrusions, especially by groundhogs. Despite the setbacks, Hamilton managed to complete the race, which was won by George Russell. The incident highlighted the ongoing challenges that wildlife poses for races at the Canadian Grand Prix circuit.