Lewis Hamilton Hits Groundhog During Canadian GP, Damaging Car and Ruining Race

Lewis Hamilton’s Canadian Grand Prix unravelled early and the culprit wasn’t a rival car, a pit stop blunder, or the weather. It was a groundhog.

Hamilton, who was running well inside the top five, suffered a mysterious loss of pace after Lap 13. Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok later revealed that Hamilton had been carrying car damage from that moment on, specifically, a 20-point loss of downforce.

The shocking reason? A collision with a groundhog that had wandered onto the track.

As the race wore on, Hamilton’s Ferrari lacked its usual punch. He was overcut by both Lando Norris and teammate Charles Leclerc, slipping to seventh by Lap 30. Frustrated on team radio, Hamilton confessed, “I’m nowhere in this race, mate. I don’t know what’s happened.”