F1 champion involved in SCARY incident with animal at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen in Baku — Photo: © IMAGO

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

F1 champion involved in SCARY incident with animal at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The final practice session of the day threw up a surprise for an F1 champion

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Saturday 7 December 2024 18:56

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A Formula 1 champion was involved in a close call with a wild animal during FP3 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Whilst F1 boasts the latest innovative technology and design, the natural world still finds a way to interrupt proceedings during a race weekend.

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The Canadian Grand Prix weekend would be incomplete without a visit from the local groundhogs, with Max Verstappen claiming that one of the critters nearly cost him the victory during this year’s race.

Furthermore, FP3 was red flagged at the Singapore GP in September after a lizard (rumoured to be related to Larry the Lizard), pranced across the track in a defiant fashion.

Groundhogs are often seen on track at the Canadian GP

Daniel Ricciardo reacting to the reptilian track invasion at the Singapore GP

Fernando Alonso involved in scary Abu Dhabi Grand Prix incident

F1 world champion and Aston Martin star, Fernando Alonso, was the latest to encounter a wild animal during FP3 at the Abu Dhabi GP.

The 43-year-old was completing a flying lap, when a huge bird swooped down onto the track and into the path of Alonso.

Fortunately, neither the bird nor Alonso were harmed with the Aston Martin swerving out of the way, in what was no doubt a scary incident for both parties.

Fernando Alonso was nearly involved in a terrifying incident at Yas Marina

Alonso finished the final practice session of the season in a disappointing P15, above his team-mate Lance Stroll in P18.

On the Friday at Yas Marina, Alonso labelled his car as the ‘worst ever’ in a furious rant over their pace as his season-long frustrations rose to the surface.

The 2024 season has been rather anonymous for the Silverstone-based outfit, who have failed to join the top four teams in the battle at the front, and are likely to finish fifth in the constructors'.

However, with the arrival of design legend Adrian Newey in 2025, Aston Martin will be hoping that his expertise can turn their performances around.

F1 Max Verstappen Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix