Pierre Gasly suffered an unfortunate setback during the first practice session when he hit a rabbit.
The unfortunate rabbit was killed in the impact, which also caused damage to the front wing and floor on Gasly’s Alpine A525.“Very sadly, there was – I couldn’t tell if it was a small cat or a big rabbit, and it turned out that it was just a big rabbit jumping across the track,” Gasly told the official F1 channel after the session. “I could not avoid it, so I had quite a big impact on the front wing.
“Unfortunately that was it for the rabbit, and it also broke the front wing. It was not ideal, not the end of the session we wanted.”
Gasly struck the rabbit as he approached the Variante Alta chicane. He told his team: “Oh my god, I hit an animal,” and pitted immediately afterwards. He did not rejoin the session, which was red-flagged soon afterwards due to Gabriel Bortoleto’s crash.
The Alpine driver said the impact did a significant amount of damage to his car. “I must say it’s quite unfortunate because obviously we always try to look after our parts and do the best job we can, so when such things happen it’s not great.
“It’s done quite a bit of damage on the front wing and the floor but some of the guys managed to do great work and repair it. But I think we could have all done without it.”
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He rebounded from that setback to record the third-fastest time in second practice, behind only the McLaren drivers. Gasly said he was encouraged by his car’s performance after their poor weekend in Miami.
“It’s been a very, very good Friday,” he said. “From the first lap I could tell the car was in a much better place than in Miami. I’m glad we managed to answer some of the question marks we had after the last race.
“I’m very pleased with the feeling in the car. The car reacts the way I want, I’m really able to be at the limit and push it to the maximum. So it’s a nice feeling, the performance is there.”
However he expects some of the drivers he finished ahead of today will be stronger in qualifying. “Obviously we know from Friday to Saturday, others usually keep a bit more in their pocket. But I think it’s quite fair to say it’s probably been the best Friday so far this year.”
"Oh my god, I hit an animal!"
Pierre Gasly hit an unfortunate rabbit towards the end of the first practice session at Imola.
#F1 #EmiliaRomagnaGP #RaceFans
— RaceFans (@racefans.net) 16 May 2025 at 18:09
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2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
- Antonelli was tiring from home race at Imola attention by Friday – Wolff
- Ferrari struggling to recreate set-up which “worked well” in Shanghai – Hamilton
- Verstappen told Red Bull to use Tsunoda before “hold him up” call
- ‘Saturdays have been mine for years but for some reason it’s drifted away’ – Norris
- “Plan C?”: Why McLaren only got their strategy right for one driver at Imola
Kamikaze Seagull (@kamikazeseagull)
16th May 2025, 18:11
So the Frenchman got a good lapin?
Joe (@jbarber43932)
16th May 2025, 18:14
Very nice!
An Sionnach
16th May 2025, 18:17
Chapeau!
I stand with rabbits. Unless they’re standing in front of a car doing 200mph! One for the stew pot, at least!
An Sionnach
16th May 2025, 18:28
Lapin à Pierre!
Neil
16th May 2025, 21:03
Crackerjack!
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
16th May 2025, 18:21
When I was growing up, I was taught to stop fast and get the kill to put in the pot.
I suppose, the way things are today, there will be a statue erected to the rabbit’s memory, and a memorial service held at the site of every race event from now on.
For those of you who do not know – wild Rabbit is a bit tough and stringy – but very tasty ;)
SteveP
16th May 2025, 21:36
Shot vs. carbon fibre mown…
The normal random lead pellet is probably easier to detect, and less likely to stick between your teeth.
Dex
16th May 2025, 18:52
Who cares about his wing or whatever… Poor rabbit.
Jere (@jerejj)
16th May 2025, 18:56
That incident went totally unseen on the world feed nor was his reactionary radio comm broadcasted either, so I was totally unaware at the time.
I don’t recall a rabbit ever crossing a live circuit.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
16th May 2025, 20:04
Every Friday, it’s rabbit pie day.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage- Special Unhinged Edition (@davedai)
16th May 2025, 20:53
P.E.T.A. rabbit
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
16th May 2025, 21:02
The last time I heard of an F1 driver hitting a rabbit in practice, it was Giancarlo Fisichella in Belgium 2009. That time, the rabbit was also killed, Fisico’s engineer advised that there is a superstition that hitting a rabbit is lucky in some parts of England, and that afternoon Fisico got pole.
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
16th May 2025, 21:04
We’ve had ‘Godzilla’, Gophers and ‘Oh Deers’ before, but this is the first I know of Rabbit. I haven’t seen the incident, but happy Pierre is okay. They might seem small, but hitting anything in an F1 car at high speed must be a bit hare-y.
Maciek (@maciek)
17th May 2025, 1:38
I dare say he also damaged the rabbit
SteveP
17th May 2025, 8:04
Newsflash:
After a ‘close inspection and modification’ of the Alpine front wing and floor produced a 3rd fastest performance, Ferrari have reportedly rounded up all rabbits in the Maranello area.
Asked if this might assist in car development, a spokesperson said “We are checking”