Huge Albon crash and dog on track disrupt Bahrain practice

Lewis Hamilton topped Formula 1’s second Bahrain Grand Prix practice session, which was interrupted by a major crash for Red Bull’s Alex Albon and a stray dog on the circuit.

Hamilton set a time of 1m28.971s to lead the timesheets for the second consecutive session, stealing top spot from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – who had looked set to end Friday fastest but eventually lost out by a margin of 0.347s.

The session was red-flagged when Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Albon – whose F1 future is still yet to be confirmed – had a huge accident at the exit of the final corner.

Albon was running solidly in Friday’s second session, but did seem to be struggling for grip at points.

RED FLAG

Session is halted after Alex Albon hits the barriers hard 💥

Albon reports on team radio that he's ok 🎧#BahrainGP 🇧🇭 #F1 pic.twitter.com/oGRYbb3uy3

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 27, 2020

He was on a fast lap at the halfway point of practice when he carried too much speed into the final corner and was pitched into a spin on the exit, clattering into the barriers amid a plume of dust.

The right rear of his Red Bull was almost entirely torn off and Albon was assessed as a precaution in the circuit medical car but reported over team radio that he was OK.

The time that he had set was enough to finish in 10th.

The session was red-flagged for 10 minutes while the wreckage was cleared, only to be red-flagged once again just as it restarted when Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel reported a stray dog running across the track.

Yeah the drivers were quick and the cars looked really cool under the lights

But… THIS GUY 🐶😍#BahrainGP 🇧🇭 #F1 pic.twitter.com/pL0GgZ59wM

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 27, 2020

The dog was unharmed and escaped through a gap in the circuit fence.

Valtteri Bottas was third-fastest, ahead of Turkish Grand Prix podium finisher Sergio Perez in fourth.

Ricciardo was the leading car in the hotly contested midfield group in fifth, with Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris ending the session sixth and seventh.

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Racing Point’s Lance Stroll was behind them in eighth, followed by AlphaTauri’s Daniil Kvyat.

The two Ferraris of Vettel and Charles Leclerc continued to be somewhat displaced down the order in 12th and 14th respectively – split by the McLaren of Carlos Sainz Jr.

George Russell bought up the rear of the field in 20th, separated from Hamilton by 2.6 seconds overall.

Practice 2 Results