In an unexpected twist at the Canadian Grand Prix, three-time F1 champion Max Verstappen encountered a groundhog on the track, leading to a heart-stopping moment that could have significantly altered the race’s outcome. While leading the pack on lap 32, the Red Bull Racing star spotted what he initially thought was debris on the circuit, only to realize it was a groundhog. The incident, which momentarily forced Verstappen to swerve and decelerate, came right after he had seized the lead from Lando Norris during a safety car period on lap 25.
Held on Montreal’s Ile Notre-Dame, a location notorious for its sizable groundhog population, the Canadian Grand Prix historically faces challenges with wildlife interferences. Recounting the encounter, Verstappen described the tense moment with a mix of alarm and humor to the media. He explained, as quoted by ESPN:
“He was almost dead! I started to get to the last chicane and I thought it was debris initially.
“So I started to close in and then I’m like, oh my god, it’s an animal! So yeah, I swerved right at the last moment. I don’t know what happened after.
“He ran off? Good. Luckily, I mean, because if that hits your car…
“I really had to slow down for it because I was a bit off the dry line.
“Yeah, last year, of course, a bird flew into my car. So I didn’t want to have a groundhog stuck in my car as well.”
George Russell, who was trailing Verstappen in second place, confirmed he also observed the groundhog incident but noted that the animal was unharmed.
Speaking about his Canadian GP victory during his post-race interview with former F1 driver and Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle, Verstappen commented, as quoted by GPBlog:
“It was a pretty crazy race, a lot of things were happening. We had to be on top of our calls. As a team we did well today. We remained calm, pitted at the right time. The Safety Car worked out nicely for us but even after that, we were managing the gaps quite well. I loved it. That was a lot of fun. Those kind of races, you need those once in a while.
“Yes, they [McLaren and Mercedes] stayed with it in different stages of the race. So it was a lot of fun on the track.”
“[The reported suspension problem was] not particularly an issue. We know what it is, so we just need to work on it, But nevertheless, we won. That’s the most important.”
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
The post F1 News: Max Verstappen Reveals Close Call Which Could Have Cost Him Canadian GP Victory appeared first on Newsweek.
