With nearly two decades in Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid. However, even the seven-time world champion occasionally experiences something for the first time. In a recent race, the Ferrari driver hit a groundhog, marking a first in his career. Animal lover Hamilton, who also suffered damage from the collision, is devastated.
Groundhogs are a common and typical problem for the Canadian Grand Prix. These creatures, known as groundhogs in English, often sit next to the track during races at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and sometimes even attempt to cross. For instance, during his victory lap in 2024, Max Verstappen had to swerve to avoid a groundhog that decided to cross during the Grand Prix. A year later, however, Lewis Hamilton was less fortunate than the Dutchman, unable to avoid a groundhog sitting in the middle of the road.
The seven-time world champion hit the animal in the twelfth lap, having started the race from the fifth position. “I had a good start, maintained my position, stayed close to the drivers ahead of me, and was managing the tyres well, so I was feeling optimistic,” Hamilton reflects to Sky Sports. “And then, and I didn’t see it coming, I heard that I hit a groundhog.”
Hamilton found it ‘terrible’ that the groundhog had to meet its end in this way. “I love animals and this is so, so sad. This has never happened to me here before,” continues the Ferrari driver. To add insult to injury, the world champion also suffered significant damage to his SF-25. “There was a hole on the right side of the floor.”
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Problems Continue to Mount
The race for the seven-time world champion went from bad to worse after the collision, and he fell from fifth place to seventh. Hamilton encountered a brake problem halfway through the Grand Prix. Additionally, the world champion was critical of his team’s strategic choices. “We waited too long for the next tire change after the first stop. As a result, we ended up behind traffic. One problem followed another,” said Hamilton. “So, I’m glad I was able to finish.” The driver still finished sixth, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton had to watch as his former team, Mercedes, ultimately took the victory. As a result, Ferrari is the only top team that has not yet achieved a victory in 2025. “We really need an upgrade,” Hamilton concludes. “There are many things that need to change before we can compete at the front.”
