Hamilton Suffers Unfortunate Collision at Canadian GP; Sixth Place Finish
Montreal, Canada — Lewis Hamilton’s hopes for a strong result at the Canadian Grand Prix were dashed following a collision with a groundhog, leaving him unable to contend for a podium. Starting from fifth on the grid, Hamilton aimed for his first top-three finish since joining Ferrari this season.
During the race, Hamilton reported significant performance issues, attributing it to damage sustained from the impact. His race engineer, Riccardo Adami, indicated that Hamilton was managing well despite the car’s damage. Hamilton stated, “I was just slow, I was just lacking a lot of performance… I heard I hit a groundhog, so that’s devastating.” He acknowledged that the damage, including a hole in the car’s floor, compromised his competitiveness.
Despite these setbacks, Hamilton finished sixth, expressing relief at securing points given additional brake issues during the race. "I think if everything was perfect, we could have aimed for fourth,” he noted.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur commented on the incident, stating, “We damaged all the front part of the floor. It’s something like 20 points [of downforce].” Vasseur emphasized the need for an upgrade package, confirming that improvements would come before the upcoming race at Silverstone.
With Hamilton’s performance affected by multiple factors, the team is under pressure to enhance their competitiveness as they look ahead to future races.
Key Race Data:
- Result: 6th Place (Lewis Hamilton)
- Starting Position: 5th
- Main Issues: Groundhog collision damage, brake problems
- Team Response: Upgrade package scheduled before Silverstone
Notable Quotes:
- Lewis Hamilton: "I was feeling optimistic until the damage."
- Fred Vasseur: “We will send flowers to the marmot.”
As Formula 1 moves on to Silverstone, Ferrari and Hamilton will be looking to rectify these issues and regain momentum in the championship standings.
