“I met an animal”
Tragic accident: Formula 1 driver craves rabbits
16.05.2025 – 10:26 pmReading time: 2 min.
In the first free training at the Grand Prix of the Emilia-Romagna, an accident is on the track. The focus: Pierre Gasly – and a rabbit.
For Alpine, the start of the Formula 1 weekend was unexpectedly good at the start of the Formula 1 weekend-after the French racing team was only able to collect a total of seven points in the first six races. In the 2nd free training on Friday, Alpine driver Pierre Gasly even drove the third best time.
But already in the 1st free training on Friday afternoon Gasly was the focus for other reasons: the 29-year-old collided with a rabbit who was currently Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari wanted to cross. “Oh my god, I met an animal,” said an audibly frightened gas ly on team radio. The animal did not survive the collision, Gasly’s Bolide was significantly damaged.
Later he explained to Sky UK: “I couldn’t say exactly whether it was a little cat or a big rabbit: it was actually a pretty big rabbit that suddenly jumped over the track. I could no longer avoid it and had a violent impact on the front wing.”
The 1st free training was ended for Gasly, and damage to the front wing and underbody had to be repaired on the car. “Unfortunately it was for the rabbit. It wasn’t the end of the session that we wanted,” said the driver.
After the shock, however, the strong 2nd free training came on Friday afternoon – and after that Gasly was noticeably better. “It was a very, very good Friday, our best this season,” he said at Sky UK. “From the first round, I noticed that the car works much better than the last race in Miami (Gasly only drove in 13th place, Note d. Red.). I am happy. “