Albon Misses Sprint Qualifying After Hitting Groundhog in FP1

Alex Albon will miss sprint qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix after a bizarre incident in FP1. The Williams driver hit a groundhog (marmot) exiting the Turn 6-7 chicane at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, causing heavy damage and a red flag. The team confirmed the damage was too severe to repair in time for the session.

Why it matters:

The crash denies Albon a chance to build on promising early pace in a sprint weekend where track time is limited. It also highlights a recurring Montreal issue: groundhog encounters have affected several drivers in recent years, including Lewis Hamilton in 2025.

The details:

• The impact sent Albon wide into the outside wall, heavily damaging the left side of the FW48.
• Williams later stated the damage required replacing the gearbox and power unit, making a sprint qualifying appearance impossible.
• Team principal James Vowles told Sky Sports: “It’s one of the risks of this circuit… he hit a marmot, and the damage is extensive – front corner, rear corner, potentially the floor and front wing, rear suspension.”
• Albon had been showing good pace relative to teammate Carlos Sainz before the accident. Vowles noted his initial reaction was frustration because “he was quick, he was up on Carlos.”
• The driver later found some humor, joking about having to adopt a family of marmots as a consequence.

What's next:

• Albon will likely start Sunday’s grand prix from the back of the grid after missing sprint qualifying, depending on any further penalties.
• Williams will focus on learning from Sainz’s setup to prepare for the main race.
• The team faces a tight turnaround to fully repair the car in time for Sunday's race.