Lewis Hamilton was left distraught after accidentally hitting a groundhog during the Canadian Grand Prix on June 15 — an incident that not only damaged his Ferrari but also deeply upset the seven-time Formula One world champion.
The 40-year-old struck the animal on lap 13 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, resulting in a hole in the floor of his SF-25. Ferrari later confirmed that the damage likely cost Hamilton around half a second per lap for the remainder of the race.
Hamilton, known for his strong advocacy for animal rights and his vegan lifestyle, finished sixth in the race, which was won by Mercedes’ George Russell.
“It was going pretty well up to that point,” Hamilton said after the race. “Then I heard I’d hit a groundhog. That’s just devastating. I love animals, so I’m really sad about it. It’s horrible — it’s never happened to me here before. I just hope it didn’t suffer.”
Wildlife, particularly groundhogs, are a known risk at the Montreal circuit, which is located on the man-made Île Notre-Dame in the Saint Lawrence River. Despite continued efforts to prevent animals from accessing the track, such encounters still occur from time to time.
Russell claimed his first victory of the season from pole position, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finishing second. Hamilton currently ranks sixth in the 2025 drivers’ standings as the season approaches its midway point.
