FLOYD ON F1: The day common sense went out the window

Albert Park in Melbourne is a challenging circuit and over the years has provided some unexpected F1 results.

Recent track enhancements have provided some seriously fast sectors with very few “slow”
corners.

Last Sunday’s Australian F1 Grand Prix, the third race of the current season, was entertaining, until the closing stages when all sensibility appeared to have left both organisers and FIA.

All was well until the Williams of Alex Albon hit the barrier in turn six. Agreed, there was debris on the circuit plus the car’s tail, but the safety car picked up the field and guided them safely through, until a red flag was deployed. Many drivers were surprised, but accepted there may have been damage to the barriers.

Another standing start and all was well until lap 52 of the 58 total when Kevin Magnussen removed the right rear wheel and suspension of his Haas, resulting in a second red flag, while car and debris were removed.

Second red flag

With all remaining cars line astern in the pit lane, officials of the race reached a decision on a restart order and the cars were reshuffled into said positions.

The previous incidents had taken valuable race time and the intense antipodean sun was dropping rapidly.

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Most drivers seated in their cars were squinting as the sun faced directly into pit lane and the main straight.

The depleted field – we had lost Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc following a first lap spin into the gravel, George Russell’s Mercedes with engine failure, Albon’s Williams and Magnussen’s Haas, were led out on the formation lap and lined up on the grid for the third standing start of the race.

By now the sun’s rays were creating havoc with driver vision, the start lights went green and the race was on once more, but it was not long before utter carnage ensued.

F1 carnage

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz clipped the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso, spinning him off track and dropping from third place to last place. It got worse as both Alpines collided taking them out of the race, the Williams of Logan Sargeant and the Alpha Tauri of Nick de Vries were all damaged, requiring a third red flag.

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A final standing start was called, after no more than a tour behind the pace car until the last corner.
It appears no one remembered past times when the start of the Albert Park race was changed due to the setting sun.

Four days, a lot of wreckage and the result, as my esteemed colleague suggested, decided by a two-lap sprint.

The next F1 Grand Prix is in Azerbaijan on 30 April.