Williams driver Alex Albon crashed into the barriers during the first practice session of the Canadian Grand Prix on Friday after striking a groundhog on the track.
The incident occurred at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, according to reports from lequipe. fr.
The 30-year-old Thai driver lost control of his car at the exit of Turn 7 following the collision with the animal, which did not survive the high-speed impact.
The crash prompted a red flag to neutralize the session.
Albon exited his heavily damaged vehicle without apparent injuries and retreated to the team garage, as reported by rds.
ca.
Formula 1 shared social media footage showing the groundhog entering the track ahead of the crash, noting that wildlife crossings are a frequent hazard at the Montreal circuit.
Earlier in the session, Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls had stopped on the track due to a mechanical failure at the start of practice.
