Canadian Grand Prix Report: Hamilton’s Race Hampered by Groundhog Collision
Lewis Hamilton finished sixth at the Canadian Grand Prix, a position compromised by damage sustained from a collision with a groundhog early in the race. Starting fifth, Hamilton maintained a competitive pace initially, closely trailing Oscar Piastri. However, after the first pit stop, his performance faltered, and he dropped nearly 30 seconds behind the leaders.
Broadcast footage revealed that on lap 13, Hamilton struck the animal, leading to significant aerodynamic damage. He expressed his disappointment, stating, “I didn’t see it happen, but I heard I hit a groundhog, so that’s devastating… the right side of the floor has a hole in it and all the vanes are all gone.”
Compounding the issues, Hamilton faced brake problems later in the race. He acknowledged that staying out too long during his first pit stop resulted in a loss of track position. Despite these challenges, he was relieved to secure points, commenting, “I’m grateful that I could just finish, particularly with the brake issue I had.”
Teammate Charles Leclerc, who finished fifth, also struggled to match the pace of the frontrunners, as Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull displayed superior performance. Hamilton noted the urgent need for team upgrades, stating, “We’re really in need of an upgrade, and there’s a lot of things that need to change in order for us to compete at the front.”
As the season progresses, Mercedes must address its pace deficiencies to contend consistently in future races.
