F1 Melbourne

2023 - 4 - 3

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Formula 1 RSS UK"

Alonso reflects on 'rollercoaster of emotions' Grand Prix as he takes ... (Formula 1 RSS UK)

Fernando Alonso took the final place in an all-world champions top three in Melbourne, with the Spaniard taking the chequered flag in third place at ...

As I said, P3, P4 for the team is just an amazing Sunday.” “But the race itself, it was good for us in terms of pace. let’s go for a second place at least!” The last half an hour was difficult to understand what was going on. [Alex Albon's crash](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.must-see-williams-alex-albon-crashes-out-of-promising-sixth-place-in-the.5pU9MTNZpMNFyvIm9m35Z1.html) turned into a red flag, Sainz and leader George Russell having pitted before the stoppage to promote Alonso up to third. Many things going on at the beginning, but then also at the end.

Australian GP: Controversial red flags analysed after Max ... (Sky Sports)

After a hugely dramatic Australian Grand Prix that featured three red flags, Formula 1's officiators are once more coming under scrutiny for their ...

"How the hell you can put a red flag before?" "(In) the second half, and especially with four laps to go, I feel like you ruin a lot of things. And, because they try and put on a show, you just get unlucky, and everything can get taken away from you all of a sudden. I guess, maybe in the first quarter of the race, I understand it. "I'm not going to disagree with this red flag," Sky Sports F1's David Croft said. "We come all the way to Australia, but it's so much hard work to drive 56, 55 laps perfectly. [Stream the biggest moments on NOW](https://www.nowtv.com/promo/sky-sports?dcmp=articlelink) There was little dispute over the final red flag, with the heavy impact the Alpines experienced and the need to check on their safety - along with all the resulting debris and chaos - a valid reason for the stoppage. It's just strange, but I do understand safety-wise as well." The McLaren driver said: "I kind of hate it. With both the debris and the possibility of the race finishing behind the Safety Car in mind, another red flag was thrown, setting up a theoretical two-lap sprint to the end from a standing start. The clean-up operation began with a recovery vehicle coming on track and lifting the Williams off the ground, but as that was going on, a red flag was thrown with the presence of debris and gravel on track the reason for the decision.

Review ordered after fans invade Melbourne F1 track, Donald ... (ABC News)

This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's stories as they happen.

"We're ready for this fight. 1 cafe in St Petersburg while speaking at a patriotic discussion event. Do you have kids who go to high school in NSW? The train cars did not release any hazardous materials, Montana Rail Link said in a statement. By Tom Williams

Australian GP safety under scrutiny after F1 fan hit by debris and ... (The Guardian)

A Formula One fan at the Australian Grand Prix suffered a cut to his arm when struck by a piece of debris, putting the spotlight on safety protocols.

“My fiancee was pretty spooked by it and borderline shell-shocked.” Part of it was shredded and really sharp, if it hit me in a different angle, it could’ve been horrendous,” he added. “It slapped me in the arm and I was just standing there bleeding,” he told radio station 3AW.

Andrew Westacott promises 'thorough investigation' after fans break ... (ABC News)

Australian Grand Prix boss Andrew Westacott says there will be a "thorough investigation" after fans broke through security to access the Albert Park track ...

"We watched the replays a bunch of times. It's almost impossible." I was just a bit surprised. "We met with the FIA last night until late into the evening and ... So, it could be a freak accident. It hit a wall that goes straight up and kicks inwards, so I don't know how it's done this weird arc. "Nobody does anything malicious at motorsport, it's an unbelievably well-behaved crowd but they, I think, had a degree of confusion. "He kind of carries on, so I'm following his car … It looked worse than it was really. the car was in an unsafe condition with possible electrical discharge). It wasn't bleeding that badly. "And then blood just dripped on my fiancée's picnic rug.

Sport or spectacle? Mayhem in Melbourne highlights F1's eternal ... (GPfans)

Formula 1's eternal struggle of toeing the line between being a sport and an entertainment source returned with a literal bang in the closing laps of the...

Imagine if a football player gets injured in stoppage time of a match where the team has no further possible substitutions. The criticism over how that race ended has now led to Monza's safety-car finish last year and Australia's attempt at a two-lap sprint race ending. The red flag flew because it was late in the race, which is spectacle, not sport. [F1 Team Principals: Who are the men in charge in 2023?](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/100171/f1-team-principals-boss-chief-listed-all-teams/) [Max Verstappen](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-drivers/max-verstappen/) and [Lewis Hamilton](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-drivers/lewis-hamilton/) for the win. I've watched the sport for over a quarter of a century, yet I, like the teams and drivers in the pit lane, had no idea what was happening during the Australian Grand Prix's second stoppage and felt frustrated that the race director stopped it.