A second groundhog was struck by a Formula 1 car at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, with Pierre Gasly hitting the animal during Saturday’s qualifying session.
The incident occurred 24 hours after Alexander Albon collided with a groundhog during Friday practice. While Albon crashed following his impact with the animal, Gasly was able to continue, though the damage to his car compounded the difficulties he has experienced since the Miami round.
Floor Damage Hampers Gasly’s Qualifying
The team’s racing director Steve Nielsen confirmed the incident caused significant problems for Gasly’s qualifying performance. “For Pierre, we tried some experiments on set-up and changed some aerodynamic components to try and put him in a happier place in the car,” Nielsen explained. “While it’s marginally better, he’s clearly still not at ease with the package as it stands and we must continue digging to understand why as it’s certainly uncharacteristic to see him so far off where we expect him to be.”
“Unfortunately, he suffered some floor damage in Q1 as a result of hitting a trackside groundhog, which impacted his car’s handling in Q2,” Nielsen added.
Gasly appeared unaware of the extent of the damage when he spoke immediately after qualifying. “We’re extremely slow on my side,” he said. “We know we clearly have work to do, but at the moment it’s just been two weekends, exactly the same thing.”
“I can feel that it’s something is not working, but I need the team to help me,” he added.
Growing Wildlife Problem at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Collisions between Formula 1 cars and animals at the Montreal circuit have become increasingly common in recent years. Several drivers have hit groundhogs in previous events at the venue, with Lewis Hamilton striking one during last year’s race.
The circuit, located on Île Notre-Dame in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, features parkland areas that provide habitat for groundhogs and other wildlife. The animals occasionally venture onto the track, creating hazards for drivers travelling at speeds exceeding 300 kilometres per hour.
With two groundhogs killed this weekend alone, the frequency of such incidents raises questions about whether additional wildlife management measures may be necessary at the venue.
The Canadian Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, with race start scheduled for 2pm local time.