Lewis Hamilton expressed deep disappointment after accidentally colliding with a groundhog during the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, which resulted in serious damage to the floor of his Ferrari. The incident happened on Lap 13 of the race, affecting his car’s performance and contributing to his sixth-place finish at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Sunday.
Impact of the Unforeseen Collision on Hamilton’s Race
<pSeven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has recently joined Ferrari, struggled to maintain pace throughout the race. Having started well, he hoped for a strong result but was hindered by the damage sustained when he hit the animal. The right side of his car’s floor was left with a hole and missing aerodynamic vanes, which critically affected downforce and handling.
Hamilton shared his feelings about the event, describing it as “devastating” and emphasizing his respect for animals.
“I was feeling pretty decent up until then, I got a good start, held position, I was managing tyres well. I was feeling optimistic,”
he told Sky Sports F1. Explaining the collision, he added,
“I didn’t see it happen but I heard I hit a groundhog. That’s devastating. I love animals and I’m so sad about it. That’s horrible. That’s never happened to me here before.”
Aside from the animal collision, Hamilton’s race included other challenges such as brake issues and strategy setbacks. The brake problem emerged midway through the event, while his first pit stop timing left him stuck behind slower rivals on track. Despite these difficulties, Hamilton expressed gratitude for finishing and scoring points.
“So I’m grateful that I could just finish, particularly with the brake issue I had, and bag those points,”
he said.
Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur also confirmed the damage caused by the animal, stating to the official Formula 1 channel,
“We had a big kiss with a marmot on lap eight or lap nine. This damaged all the front part of the floor.”
Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle provided technical insight, noting that the collision caused a loss of roughly 20 points of downforce, which translated to about half a second slower per lap, severely compromising Hamilton’s race pace.
Ferrari’s Need for Performance Upgrades Highlighted by Hamilton
Following the race, Hamilton expressed the urgent requirement for Ferrari to introduce updates to their car if they are to compete effectively with frontrunners such as Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren. He underscored that without meaningful improvements, the team will continue to lag behind their rivals.
“We’re really in need of an upgrade and there are a lot of things that need to change for us to be able to compete at the front,”
Hamilton said. When asked about upcoming upgrades, he admitted that communication within the team has been limited.
“They don’t really talk about it much, I’ve been chasing them!”
He elaborated on the prospects of future developments:
“There is something coming hopefully next week but I don’t know if it’s much, I don’t think it’s going to be a lot. I just think it’s one of those years.”
This suggests Hamilton is bracing for a difficult season ahead unless significant progress is made.
Broader Implications and Expectations Moving Forward
The mishap with the groundhog has highlighted the unpredictable elements that can influence a driver’s race, especially when combined with mechanical and strategic issues. For Hamilton and Ferrari, the event accentuates the challenges they face in closing the gap to their competitors this season. The damage to Hamilton’s car not only disrupted his race but also amplified the team’s urgent need for substantive technical upgrades.
As Hamilton continues to push for better results, Ferrari must accelerate their development pace to help the seven-time champion achieve the performance needed to compete at the front. The upcoming upgrades, even if limited, could be crucial in addressing current shortfalls as the season progresses.
