An unusual incident interrupted the opening practice session of the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix after Williams Racing driver Alex Albon collided with a groundhog that entered the track during the session.
The accident forced officials to briefly wave the red flag after Albon crashed into the barriers, scattering debris across the circuit and temporarily halting the session before additional time was added.
Williams Racing confirmed that Albon was unable to avoid the animal while approaching Turn 7, resulting in significant damage to the car, including the gearbox and power unit. The damage ultimately ruled him out of the sprint qualifying session later in the day.
The team stated that the extent of the damage was far worse than initially expected despite major repair efforts carried out by the mechanics.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada has long been known for occasional encounters with groundhogs due to its location on the artificial Notre Dame Island inside Jean-Drapeau Park, with several similar incidents recorded over the years.
Drivers including Nicholas Latifi, Romain Grosjean, and Lewis Hamilton have all experienced comparable collisions with groundhogs during previous Canadian Grand Prix weekends.
