Lewis Hamilton was left heartbroken after an unexpected and tragic incident during the Canadian Grand Prix, where he accidentally ran over a groundhog on Lap 13 of the race at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Following the race, the seven-time world champion and Ferrari driver expressed deep sorrow over the incident. “I didn’t see it happen, but I heard I hit a groundhog,” Hamilton said. “That’s devastating. I love animals and that’s so, so sad.”
The 40-year-old, who has been vegan since 2017 in part due to his concern for animal welfare, was visibly affected by the moment. While the collision also caused damage to his car—leaving a hole in the floor—it was the harm to the animal that weighed more heavily on him than the loss of race performance.
Despite finishing sixth in a chaotic Grand Prix that saw McLaren’s Lando Norris retire after a collision with teammate Oscar Piastri, Hamilton noted that his race had been marred by multiple issues. “We had a brake issue halfway through, and we probably stayed out too long after the first stop. It just went from one thing to another,” he said. “So I’m happy I could just finish.”
Animal encounters at the Canadian Grand Prix are not unheard of. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, located on Montreal’s Île Notre-Dame, has seen similar incidents in the past. In 2007, Anthony Davidson had to pit for a new front wing after hitting a groundhog. In 2018, Romain Grosjean struck one during practice, damaging his car and sparking renewed conversation about wildlife safety on the track.
For Hamilton, the emotional impact of the accident went far beyond the racing implications. “That’s never happened to me here before,” he said quietly, reflecting a moment of real-world consequence amid the high-speed spectacle of Formula One.
