- Alex Albon ’s practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix took an unexpected turn when his car collided with a groundhog, sending him into the barriers.
- Williams confirmed their driver was unable to avoid the local inhabitant as he navigated turn seven of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
- 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.
- The unusual collision has left Williams facing a significant repair challenge ahead of sprint qualifying later on Friday.
- Albon, a known animal lover whose pets even boast 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
