Williams driver Alex Albon experienced an unexpected incident during his practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix when his car struck a groundhog, resulting in a collision with the barriers. The team confirmed that Albon could not avoid the local animal as he approached turn seven of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Wildlife Encounters at Montreal Track
The Montreal track, situated within Parc Jean-Drapeau on Isle Notre Dame, has a history of wildlife encounters, with groundhogs frequently appearing on the circuit during race weekends. Last year, Lewis Hamilton expressed he was "devastated" after a similar incident.
Repair Challenges Ahead
The unusual collision has left Williams facing a significant repair challenge ahead of sprint qualifying scheduled for later on Friday. Albon, a known animal lover whose pets even have their own Instagram account, was forced to return to the garage with more than half of the sole practice session still remaining.
In full: F1 Canadian GP LIVE: Kimi Antonelli quickest in practice after crashes in Montreal.
