Sunday Debrief: The Dutch anthem replaced by the Spanish in Australia
- mallikarull
- Mar 24, 2024
- 4 min read
For the first time in 9 races, no Red Bulls featured on the Podium in Australia. Sainz doing it once again as the only driver to beat the Bulls over the last year. A brake failure meant an early retirement for Verstappen, opening the door for a Ferrari 1-2 finish and P3 for Norris.
Image: motorsport.com
Race build up
Lando Norris in the McLaren showed real promise for the weekend, as the Brit went quickest in FP1. Leclerc took the lead for the following two practice session with the order of the top 3 remaining as Leclerc, Verstappen and Sainz for the final two practice sessions.
Image: motorsport.com
Albon crashed out in FP2, causing bad damage to the chassis of Williams. Williams making a controversial decision after the session, with no spare chassis to give Albon. Williams ultimately decided to give Albon the chassis of Sargeant for the weekend, running only one car for the weekend. Sargeant showed himself as a team player, sitting out the race weekend, sharing “This is the hardest moment i can remember in my career.”
“I am however completely here for the team and will contribute any way that i can this weekend”
Ricciardo was out of qualifying in Q1, for the first time at his home race since joining Formula One. The Aussie driver out after having his lap time deleted. Q1 also saw the exit of Zhou, Gasly and Hulkenberg.
The Mercedes looked to be struggling in FP2 with Russell finishing far ahead of his teammate Hamilton, finishing in P6 and P18 respectively. Mercedes look to have made some recovery in FP3, with Hamilton finishing behind his teammate in P5, a massive jump from P18 in the previous session. While Mercedes looked to have fixed their setup in FP3, qualifying was not an easy one for the team, with work being done on the floor of both cars ahead of Q1. Both cars appeared on track with 10 minutes left of Q1, moving into the second session. Russell complained about his braked throughput the session, making it to Q3, qualifying in P7, while Hamilton couldn’t make it past Q2. Hamilton was knocked out of Q3 by Stroll, qualifying P11.
Image: motorsport.com
Q3 heated up in the final minute with a three-way battle between Verstappen, Sainz and Perez for pole. Verstappen unsurprisingly winning the battle, followed by Sainz then Perez. Leclerc, who hoped to be a challenger in the battle, bailed out of his final lap and returned to the pits, unable to improve his previous lap time, qualifying in P5.
Following the session, Perez was handed a 3-place grid penalty for an incident in Q1, where Perez impeded Nico Hulkenberg. Perez dropped down to P6 for the race, Promoting Norris up to P3 and Leclerc up onto the second row.
Race Day
Only 18 of 20 drivers started the race from the grid, Sargeant missing out on the race after the Williams chassis dilemma and Zhou starting from the pit lane after taking a new front wing from a different spec.
The first lap, all drivers making it out without any contact across the field, both Mercedes making up a place in what would be a disastrous race for the team.
Image: motorsport.com
Verstappen complained over the radio that the car felt ‘loose’ shortly before Carlos Sainz breezed past the uncharacteristically slow RB20 on Lap 20. The RB20 not putting up much of a fight as the Ferrari driver swooped into the lead. This was moments before disaster for Red Bull, as Verstappen’s rear right brake began smoking, forcing an early retirement for the world champion.
Verstappen was the first of 3 retirements in the race, Hamilton followed Verstappen on Lap 17 after issues with the Mercedes engine. The engine suddenly turning off, forcing Hamilton out and a Virtual Safety Car as Hamilton failed to get back to the pits.
Gasly, while having a credible race, fighting the Haas drivers, and running in the points in the earlier stint of the race, was the only driver to take a penalty in this race. Gasly gaining a 5-second time penalty for crossing the white line at the pit entry.
Image: motorsport.com
Leclerc made a final pit stop at the end of Lap 34, coming out into a three-way battle between Perez and Alonso for P5, Leclerc managing to exit the pits at the right time and staying ahead of the pair. Leclerc climbing up the order and up into P2.
McLaren looked to be playing the team game this race, with Piastri asked to swap with Norris on Lap 29 with his teammate in the faster McLaren. The decision by the team securing Norris on the final podium spot and Piastri a P4 finish at his home race. The McLaren drivers having a good weekend, moving up in the constructor’s championship.
A nasty crash for Russell on the final lap made it a double retirement for Mercedes. Mercedes look to be reversing their improvements from last season and falling back down the order. Russell making contact with the barrier, losing a wheel and the car rolling onto its side and laying in the middle of the track. Fortunately, after the big crass, Russell quickly reported on the team radio that he was okay.
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