Alex Albon brings out the red flags with practice crash

Alex Albon's participation for the remainder of the weekend is now in doubt after he crashed his Williams FW46 severely during the first practice session in Melbourne. Albon seemed to bottom out on the turn 7 exit kerb after running slightly wide out of Turn 6 with only 20 minutes left in the early afternoon practice.

Albon lost control of his vehicle and ended up in the wall on the right side of the track at the same place where he crashed out of the race the previous year. After bouncing off the pavement, Albon crossed back over the track, struck the barriers flanking the circuit on the left, and finally came to a slow halt. Albon climbed free as the red flags flew following the heavy impact, and Williams said he would not be able to participate in the second practice session while the crew evaluated the damage to the FW46. Debris littered the track following the impact.