Formula 1 has once again faced debates about animal safety, following the accident involving Alex Albon during the Canadian GP weekend. The animal rights organization PETA called for action from the category after the Williams driver hit a groundhog during TL1 in Montreal.
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The episode gained attention after the organization’s founder, Ingrid Newkirk, praised Albon’s reaction when trying to avoid the animal on the track. According to the director, the driver’s attitude showed ‘courage and compassion’ in a decision made in fractions of a second.
In the statement released by PETA, Newkirk said the driver deserves recognition for trying to avoid the groundhog: “Alex Albon’s decision to swerve to try to avoid hitting a groundhog on the track makes him a winner,” she said.
She also added that the driver secured a symbolic place on the ‘PETA podium’ for the stance he took during the incident: “Showing courage and compassion, he made an instant choice to value the life of a vulnerable animal,” the organization’s founder continued.
The director also called for preventive measures from the Canadian GP organizers to reduce similar new episodes. According to Newkirk, wild animals do not understand the risks of a racing circuit and simply move naturally through the area where they live.
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She continued: “Other species don’t understand racetracks or high-speed cars. They are simply living their lives,” she said. The representative of the organization also said she hopes the incident will encourage the adoption of barriers and protection mechanisms, both for animals and drivers.
The accident happened at the exit of turn 6 of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve during Friday’s TL1. After hitting the groundhog, Albon lost control of the FW48 and crashed hard into the safety barrier. The damage was greater than Williams initially thought, requiring a complete replacement of the car’s power unit and gearbox.
Because of the extent of the damage, the driver did not participate in the Sprint qualifying held later that day. The Canadian circuit, located on an island in the St. Lawrence River, has a frequent history of encounters between Formula 1 cars and wild animals. In previous years, Anthony Davidson hit a similar animal in 2007, while Sebastian Vettel avoided a similar incident in 2018.
