Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines and get ready for another high-octane edition of "The Pitstop Press"- your one-stop-shop for all things Formula 1, highlights, memes, quizzes, basics, and a lot more. Buckle up, because this edition is going to be a wild ride!
We're here to relive the Australian Grand Prix - a race that was pure chaos, pain, and all-around nerve-racking. From the heart-stopping start to the breathtaking finish, this race had us on the edge of our seats. It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions that left us wanting more.
So, get ready to rev your engines and relive the highlights and lowlights of the Australian Grand Prix. It's going to be a wild ride, but we promise it'll be worth it. Let's go!
It’s just the third race of the season and it was pure chaos, being the first race in history to have three red flags, a total of eight DNFs, and three standing restarts.
Red Bull had a fantastic day, with Verstappen claiming the victory after losing his position on the first lap to both Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Thanks to several safety cars and three red flags, he was able to make his way back to the top of the podium. Perez had a rough weekend but managed to end up on P5 with the fastest lap, earning him the driver of the day title.
Ferrari had a weekend to forget, with both drivers Leclerc and Sainz failing to secure any points. Leclerc crashed with Stroll on turn 3 and didn't even complete a single lap, while Sainz finished on P4, only to be slapped with a 5-second penalty for crashing with Alonso on lap 56.
Mercedes had a great start, with both drivers Russell and Hamilton overtaking Verstappen on lap 1. However, an early pit stop mistake during the safety car caused Russell to lose a few positions, and eventually, engine issues led to his car catching fire and coming to a stop. Hamilton was able to maintain his position, but it was not without some luck on his side.
McLaren had a day to remember, with Norris and rookie Oscar Piastri both securing points. They had some luck on their side, but they also put in some great performances that secured their positions.
Alpine started off strong, with both drivers Ocon and Gasly showing good pace and even managing to keep Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren behind them. However, tragedy struck on lap 56 when they ended up crashing into each other, causing both drivers to be out of the race.
Aston Martin had a solid day, with Alonso securing P3 and Stroll on P4. It's a back-to-back-to-back podium for Alonso, and Stroll managed to avoid any penalties, although he did cause Leclerc's DNF.
The final (third) standing start, a two-lap sprint shootout, starts, and just within a few seconds, the drama begins. Sainz made contact with Alonso, spinning him off the track. Behind, Gasly in Alpine collided with his teammate Ocon, putting both drivers out of the race, while Logan Sargent from Williams ran into Nyck de Vries, and Perez and Stroll went off the track.
Alright, folks, before we wrap up this newsletter and say goodbye, let's clear the air about Verstappen's car is out of the grid box. You see, after the race, the internet was buzzing with photos of Max's car sitting a little too far forward on the grid. People were outraged, demanding that he receive a penalty.
Why didn’t Verstappen get a penalty?
Two allegations were made against Verstappen:
Car's front wing was too far ahead of the grid box, and
He was moving the car while on the grid.
The former allegation was dismissed as, according to the rules, a driver is not penalized unless some part of the tire is on or behind the white line. The latter allegation was also dismissed because Verstappen was moving the car when none of the red lights were on, which was legally allowed.
Here’s a great explainer video:
So, gear up and buckle in, because we're in for an incredible season of racing that's sure to leave us all breathless!
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Until next time,
Dhairya Sheth