The FIA has confirmed it will investigate the dog incident during last weekend’s GP2 race at Istanbul Park – and has threatened to take sanctions against the Turkish Grand Prix venue.
During Sunday’s sprint race of Formula 1’s feeder series, Bruno Senna hit one of two stray dogs that had run onto the circuit.
The nephew of legendary Brazilian Ayrton was lucky to avoid injury, with the impact breaking his car’s right-front suspension.
An FIA spokesman has since confirmed that the governing body’s safety commission will hold a full investigation into the matter to determine how the dogs got onto the track.
"This was a serious lapse in circuit security and safety," the spokesman told Reuters.
"How could such a thing happen at an almost brand-new Formula 1 track?
"The FIA Safety Commission will hold a full investigation into the matter, which may then be referred to the World Council."
When asked what the consequences for the venue could be, the spokesman added: "Sanctions cannot be ruled out at this stage."
Istanbul Park was taken under the management of a Bernie Ecclestone-owned company in April last year, with F1's commercial rights supremo also guaranteeing the venue would remain on the calendar until 2021.