Latest news with #CircuitGillesVilleneuve
Independent Singapore
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Independent Singapore
'I'm so sad about it'— Lewis Hamilton reacts after hitting groundhog during Canadian GP
At the Canadian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton accidentally hit a groundhog, which damaged the underside of his Ferrari and caused distractions to his overall performance during the race. The accident occurred around Lap 9 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where groundhogs usually appear. The damage caused by the collision slowed his car by about half a second per lap, and it resulted in him being in sixth place. ' I was feeling pretty decent until then. I got a good start, held position. I was holding onto the group… I was managing the tyres well. I was feeling optimistic. I didn't see it happen, but I heard I hit a groundhog,' Hamilton told Sky Sports. The athlete, known to be an animal lover, was very upset by this incident. 'That's devastating because I love animals, and I'm so sad about it. That's horrible. It's never happened to me before,' he admitted. He also shared the damages of the accident, stating, 'The right side of the floor has a hole on it and all the veins are done. Given that, then we had a brake issue halfway through [the race] as well, then we stayed out too long in the first stop, came out behind traffic and it went from one thing to another, so I'm grateful I could just finish, particularly with the brake issue I had and bag those points.' Ferrari to upgrade After the Montreal race, Hamilton was still more than half a second slower than George Russell, who won the pole position. Hamilton's car was not fast enough to compete with the top drivers in the qualifying at the moment, even though the track was supposed to be good for Ferrari. Before the Montreal race, Hamilton shared on social media that returning to the track where he won his first Formula 1 race still felt surreal. He expressed how much the city meant to him and thanked fans for their continued support over the years. Hamilton then stated that Ferrari will have significant upgrades to their cars as preparations for the next F1 race happening in Austria from June 27-29. He said, 'We are really in need of an upgrade, and there are lots of things that need to change for us to compete at the front. We have something hopefully coming next week. I don't know if it's much, how much it is. I don't think it's a lot. I just think it's one of those years.' In other news, Hamilton also shared that he is part of the production of the upcoming F1 movie, which will premiere on June 27. In a social media post, Hamilton shared the caption: 'NY premiere of the @f1movie !! I'm so proud to be a part of this as my first production with Dawn Apollo Films. Something of this scale, with so many talented people working together to create the most authentic F1 film, remains an incredible experience. Thank you to the cast, crew, Apple, Warner Bros., Jerry and Joe for trusting me as a first-time producer. This is only the beginning.' Netizens flooded the post with praise and excitement, with one writing, 'I can't wait to watch it, see everyone's hard work 🥰.' Another added, 'We are so proud of you @lewishamilton — the beginning of many more accomplishments to come!' Others called him the 'king of everything,' saying he's 'truly bigger than F1' and always 'taking the sport to new heights and representing greatness.'
Top Gear
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Groundhogs, beware: Canadian Grand Prix extended until 2035
Formula One Bad news for local wildlife as F1 agrees contract extension with Montreal circuit Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading This just in: the Canadian Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar until 2035, after extending its existing contract by four years. Great news, eh? It most certainly is, because it means Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – with its long straight, heavy braking zones, and notorious slab of concrete – isn't at risk of being replaced by some godawful street circuit. Advertisement - Page continues below And no, we haven't forgotten that the island-based track is, technically speaking… a street circuit. This is one of the good ones, innit. 'Montreal is an incredible city, full of energy and passionate fans, and I am delighted to confirm that we will continue racing here through to the 2035 season and that our media rights deal with Bell Media is also extending in the long term,' said Stefano Domenicali, F1 president and CEO. You might like 'I would like to thank the promoter, Octane Racing Group, for their continued efforts in upgrading this iconic venue in recent years, and all local, regional, and national political stakeholders who have worked closely together to make this event what it is today. 'I would also like to thank our incredible Canadian fans. I look forward to creating more unforgettable moments in Montreal with you over the next 10 years.' Advertisement - Page continues below The Canadian Grand Prix was first held in 1967, and moved to its current venue in 1978 before being renamed after the legendary Gilles Villeneuve four years later. Since then, it's barely been off the calendar. For yonks it has sat in a weird slot in the middle of the European leg of the F1 schedule, but from 2026 it'll occupy an earlier window so it can run back to back with the Miami Grand Prix. Common sense prevails at last. READ MORE Lando Norris crashes into Oscar Piastri, immediately says sorry The track is also known for being home to countless groundhogs, albeit one fewer than this time last week after Lewis Hamilton, er, squashed one with his Ferrari during the grand prix. Oops. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. It was also the site of perhaps the greatest modern F1 race of them all; the 2011 edition that Jenson Button won from last place despite pitting six times and bumping off two world champions betwixt a two-hour red flag stoppage. Anyone else feel old now?
Reuters
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Canadian Grand Prix to stay on F1 calendar through 2035
June 17 (Reuters) - The Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal will stay on the calendar through 2035 after agreeing a four-year extension to the existing deal, Formula One said on Tuesday. The contract renewal also includes a long-term extension to Bell Media's media rights deal, the Liberty Media-owned sport added. Last weekend's grand prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was the 54th edition since the race first featured in the championship in 1967. The Montreal track, named after the late Ferrari great and father of 1997 world champion Jacques, became the permanent host in 1978. "I would like to thank the promoter, Octane Racing Group, for their continued efforts in upgrading this iconic venue in recent years, and all local, regional, and national political stakeholders who have worked closely together to make this event what it is today," said F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali. The race's previous contract extension was to 2029 but two of those years (2020 and 2021) were during the COVID-19 pandemic when Formula One did not visit and the deal was extended to 2031. Next year's race will be held earlier than previously with a new May 24 slot after switching with Monaco and aligning more closely with Miami.
CNA
4 days ago
- Automotive
- CNA
Canadian Grand Prix to stay on F1 calendar through 2035
The Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal will stay on the calendar through 2035 after agreeing a four-year extension to the existing deal, Formula One said on Tuesday. The contract renewal also includes a long-term extension to Bell Media's media rights deal, the Liberty Media-owned sport added. Last weekend's grand prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was the 54th edition since the race first featured in the championship in 1967. The Montreal track, named after the late Ferrari great and father of 1997 world champion Jacques, became the permanent host in 1978. "I would like to thank the promoter, Octane Racing Group, for their continued efforts in upgrading this iconic venue in recent years, and all local, regional, and national political stakeholders who have worked closely together to make this event what it is today," said F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali. The race's previous contract extension was to 2029 but two of those years (2020 and 2021) were during the COVID-19 pandemic when Formula One did not visit and the deal was extended to 2031. Next year's race will be held earlier than previously with a new May 24 slot after switching with Monaco and aligning more closely with Miami.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- ABC News
McLaren lets Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris race freely despite Canadian GP crash
McLaren will continue to let Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris race freely for the Formula One title but there will be some tough talks back at the factory after this week's collision in Canada. Norris accepted the blame after hitting the rear of his championship-leading Australian teammate's car while trying to overtake in a battle for fourth place three laps from the finish. The incident between the title frontrunners, with Piastri extending his lead to 22 points while Norris failed to score, was the talk of the paddock at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and had been long predicted. McLaren principal Andrea Stella said the team would discuss once the dust had settled how to prevent it from happening again. "Definitely there will be good conversations, but they will happen once we are all rested and calm," the Italian told reporters. He said the team would seek to "preserve our parity and equality in terms of how we go racing at McLaren between our two drivers. "The being free to race and the being clear as to how we go racing is a value of racing," he said. "It is a value of racing that we want to try and exercise and respect as much as we can, rather than every time we have a proximity between the two cars then having control from the pit wall. Stella said the points should reflect the drivers' performance rather than any team orders. "This is not necessarily a simple and straight exercise but we want to try and do it as best as we can," he said. "So I don't foresee that today's episode will change our approach from this point of view. "If anything it will reinforce and it will strengthen that the principles we have require more caution by our drivers." Stella said the incident was a simple misjudgement of distance rather than an aggressive statement of intent and he appreciated Norris's ownership of responsibility. He recognised the Briton's confidence could be dented, with the driver always open in his emotions and prone to blaming himself in a title battle increasingly going Piastri's way, but Norris could count on every support. "On this one I want to be completely clear," Stella said. "It's full support to Lando. We will have conversations and the conversations may be even tough. But there's no doubt over the support we give to Lando. "Lando himself will have to show his character to overcome this kind of episode. Make sure that he only takes the learnings, he only takes what will make him a stronger driver." Piastri has won five of the 10 races so far to Norris's two with 14 remaining. The next race is in Austria on June 29. Reuters
