Source: REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
[Saba Sports News] In the recently concluded F1 Canadian Grand Prix, seven-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton unexpectedly collided with a groundhog on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, causing severe damage to the Ferrari SF-25 race car, which effectively ended any hope he had of making it onto the podium. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal is adjacent to the Saint Lawrence River, where the frequent appearance of groundhogs has long been a characteristic feature of the race. But the encounter between wildlife and F1 racing cars traveling at 300 km/h is destined to end in tragedy. In the first half of the race, Hamilton’s Ferrari SF-25 car performed steadily, staying within the top five throughout. However, during the latter part of the race, his car speed inexplicably dropped, eventually finishing sixth. After the race, the mystery of Hamilton’s drop in speed was revealed: a groundhog that entered the track cost him a chance to reach the podium. Hamilton candidly admitted to reporters: “The engineers told me that I hit an animal.” This collision caused serious damage to the right side of the car’s underbody, completely dislodging critical aerodynamic components. The technical team estimated that this accident cost the car about 0.3 seconds per lap in speed. What made matters worse, the impact triggered a chain reaction. The hole in the chassis caused overheating in the braking system, forcing the Ferrari team to extend the first pit stop time. As a result, Hamilton’s car became stuck in a slow-moving train of traffic. In response, some fans said that given the extent of the damage and brake issues, it was fortunate that Hamilton was able to finish the race.