Groundhog Day: Why Montreal’s resident rodents are a notorious pest at F1 Canadian GP
Groundhogs, also known as marmots, are widely found across Canada and have ended up disrupting F1 events ever since the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve played host to its first grand prix back in 19𓄧78.
Montr🅠eal’s resident rodents have a tendency to make the venue their home, meaning the drivers have to be extra alert when driving around the street circuit to avoid them.
Unfortunately, the small🏅 furry animals have often meℱt their end following contact with F1 cars, something the drivers are sometimes helpless to avoid.
Romaꦬin Grosjean damaged the nose of his Haas car when he hit a groundhog during free practice at the 2018 Canadian Grand Prix.
At the time, Gros💧jean said he was “disappointed” the marshals did not attempt to catch and remove the groundhog after it had been captured on the track by television cameras.
“Of course we saw the groundhog,” Whiting said. “I did ask if it was feasible to try and catch him and I was t💝old by those who know much more about gr🍨oundhogs it was a very unwise thing to try and do.
“We felt that on balance it was better to leave it th🍸ere and hope he didn’t 🌌make a dash for it but he did, unfortunately.
“They are indigenous toꦕ th🌠is island, they’re protected, and they do their best to get places they’re not supposed to go.
“We do our best to try and fill up all the holes but th🐎ey just dig new ones and quite often get onto the track.
Everyday is 'Groundhog Day' at the
— Formula 1 (@F1)
“It’s not nice but I think there’s very little we can actually do to 🐎eradicate it.”
According to TVA Nouvelles, the city of Montreal has placed animal traps arou🐎nd the vicinity ෴of the circuit in a bid to reduce the likelihood of a potentially dangerous collision at this weekend’s race.
Food has been placed in the traps to lure the groundhogs into cages, which ꦇwill keep the animals from further harm until they can be relocated to a safer location.
With groundhogs likely to reappear at the F1 Canadian Grand Prix this weekend, the drivers will be faced with another challenge to keep anꦓ eye out for.
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for ltxcn.top around the world. Often reporting on 🔯the ac꧒tion from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.
