Lewis Hamilton expressed his distress after striking a groundhog during the 2024 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, an accident that inflicted serious damage to the floor of his Ferrari. The seven-time world champion revealed this incident happened on Lap 13, impacting his race performance and contributing to his sixth-place finish behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
The 40-year-old British driver struggled throughout the race as his car showed signs of mechanical problems, including brake issues, alongside the harm caused by the collision with the groundhog. Hamilton, well known as a vegan and animal lover, described the event as deeply upsetting.
Hamilton Reflects on Race Challenges and Animal Collision
Hamilton started the race with confidence, managing to hold position and conserve his tires effectively, but the unexpected strike changed the course of his race.
“I was feeling pretty decent up until then, I got a good start, held position, I was managing tyres well. I was feeling optimistic,”
Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. He acknowledged never before hitting an animal at the Canadian Grand Prix, stating,
“I didn’t see it happen but I heard I hit a groundhog. That’s devastating. I love animals and I’m so sad about it. That’s horrible. That’s never happened to me here before.”
The collision caused a visible hole on the right side of the car’s floor and damaged several aerodynamic vanes crucial to performance. Hamilton faced further obstacles including a brake issue midway through the race and poorly timed pit stops, which placed him behind traffic and compounded his difficulties. Despite these setbacks, he was relieved to finish the race and continue scoring points.
“So I’m grateful that I could just finish, particularly with the brake issue I had, and bag those points,”
he added.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur also confirmed the incident, noting,
“We had a big kiss with a marmot on lap eight or lap nine. This damaged all the front part of the floor.”
Formula 1 expert Martin Brundle explained the aerodynamic loss, stating the damage cost Hamilton about 20 points of downforce, equating to roughly half a second per lap.
Urgent Need for Ferrari Performance Upgrades
Hamilton emphasized Ferrari’s struggle to keep pace with leading teams such as Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren, urging for faster and more substantial upgrades if they hope to contend for victories. He expressed frustration over the current competitiveness of the team despite being a key driver.
“We’re really in need of an upgrade and there a lot of things that need to change for us to be able to compete at the front,”
Hamilton explained.
When questioned about upcoming enhancements, Hamilton replied that communication regarding developments has been limited, expressing ongoing efforts to push for improvements.
“They don’t really talk about it much, I’ve been chasing them!”
he said. He added,
“There is something coming hopefully next week but I don’t know if it’s much, I don’t think it’s going to be a lot. I just think it’s one of those years.”
Implications for Hamilton and Ferrari’s Season Ahead
This incident at the Canadian Grand Prix highlights the multiple challenges Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari face in 2024. Beyond unfortunate accidents, the team’s current lack of competitiveness threatens its chances of breaking the dominance of rivals like Mercedes and Red Bull. Hamilton’s emotional reaction to harming an animal during competition reveals his personal values and the unexpected nature of the setbacks he encountered.
Looking forward, Ferrari’s efforts to introduce upgrades will be closely watched as they seek to provide Hamilton with a more competitive car. The ongoing struggle to match front-runners will likely shape the remainder of their Formula 1 campaign, influencing driver morale and team strategy.