Lewis Hamilton ‘Devastated’ After Running Over a Groundhog During F1 Race: ‘I Just Hope It Didn’t Suffer’

NEED TO KNOW

• F1 driver Lewis Hamilton ran over a groundhog during the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal
• Hamilton is a vegan and well-known animal lover
• Hamilton said after the race that he was "so sad" about running over the animal
  

Lewis Hamilton ran over a groundhog on the 13th lap of the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, perhaps costing him the race on Sunday, June 15. But his final position was the least of the British race car driver’s concerns.

“I didn’t see it happen, but I heard I hit a groundhog, so that’s devastating,” the 40-year-old F1 driver said after the race, according to Sky Sports, BBC and ESPN.

“I love animals, so I’m so sad about it,” Hamilton added. “It’s horrible. It’s never happened to me here before.”

BBC reported that groundhogs are “commonplace” around the racetrack in Montreal, a city where the animals have increased in population in recent years. CBC reported earlier this month that the animals have also been increasingly nesting in more urban areas around the province of Quebec in general in recent years.

Per ESPN, incidents involving groundhogs have happened numerous times over the years at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve track where the Canadian Grand Prix takes place.

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Hamilton, a seven-time world champion driver, is also a vegan and well-known animal lover, according to BBC.

The driver said he was “feeling pretty decent” about the race until running over the animal, which he didn’t see on the road. However, he heard the groundhog when he hit it. "It's never nice to see that,” Hamilton said. “I just hope it didn't suffer."

The impact with the rodent resulted in a hole in the floor of Hamilton’s car, adding to his difficulties for the remainder of the race. The driver's crew estimated that the damage cost him roughly half-a-second per lap for the rest of the race, which he ultimately finished in sixth place.

"The floor, the right side, there's a hole in it and all the vanes are all gone," Hamilton pointed out after the race, according to ESPN, adding that he also dealt with a braking issue throughout the day. He added, "I'm happy I could just finish."

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