Alpine F1 academy driver Nikola Tsolov is facing a hefty penalty over a dangerous incident during Formula 3 practice at the Australian Grand Prix.
The session was red-flagged with just minutes left on the clock after Alex Dunne crashed out on the back straight after being tapped by his 17-year-old rival.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: F3 drivers collide in shocking practice crash.
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Footage showed Dunne, 18, weaving to warm his tyres with Tsolov arriving quickly behind him on a flying lap.
Tsolov backed off before Dunne straightened his car and moved right to create space, only to instead find himself careening into the wall.
Replays appeared to suggest Tsolov “shoved” Dunne, as a plainly shocked commentator Chris McCarthy assessed.
“That is going to be investigated by the stewards,” McCarthy said.
“Nikola Tsolov, I don’t know what on earth he was thinking there. He’s gone straight into the side of Alex Dunne, put him into the barriers.
“That was incredibly dangerous driving … I’m not too sure what on earth he was thinking there, I’m not too sure what on earth that was all about.
“That’s going to be something, I’m sure, that will be investigated, and we’ll leave that one to the stewards I think.
“I think the pictures almost spoke for themselves there. A real shame the practice session had to end that way … not the pictures we want to see at the start of what is going to be a fantastic weekend of racing.
“That is really not what you want to see with two drivers trying to make their way up the rankings, in front of the Formula One paddock. That is really not what you want to see at all.
“It could’ve been a whole lot worse, to be honest, a whole lot worse.”
McCarthy said Tsolov “made his feelings (on Dunne’s weaving) very clear” with the hit.
Tsolov explained his view of the crash in comments to independent outlet Feeder Series after the session.
“I was a bit confused. I arrived on a push lap and I think the MP (Dunne) was weaving, so I didn’t know where to go to get past him because he was on a cool lap or something,” he said.
“I went to the left side and then I just felt a hit under my rear tyre. So I think it was just a bit of a misunderstanding, but nothing intentional from any side. I think it was just a bit unfortunate.”
Having claimed he “didn’t do anything strange” and was on the racing line, Tsolov was asked directly if the hit was deliberate.
“I have no intention against him. There’s nothing to win in a practice session, so I wouldn’t do something like that,” he said.
The F3 field is due back on track at 2pm AEDT for qualifying ahead of Saturday morning’s sprint race.