Open Wheel Episode F1 Quali Both Alpines out in Q1 Ocon P17, Gasly P18 Bottas out in Q1 → Felt like traffic cost him a spot in Q2 Zhou didn’t set a time after his massive accident in FP3 Hulk lost power early into Q2 down the main straight Bearman missed Q3 by 0.036s → starting 11th Stroll and Tsunoda both made Q3 STR - only the second time in 12 race → TSU outqualified RIC again (P14) Verstappen pole LEC P2, PER P3 PIA outqualified NOR → P5 and P6 starts Race Ollie Bearman’s debut → Sainz out due to appendicitis Gasly’s Alpine broke on the grid → reported a gearbox issue on the Formation Lap Would retire on Lap 2 Lando and Perez jumped the start but, amazingly, no penalty Stroll put it in the barriers at L6 T23 Caused a flurry of pit lane action → most opting for Hards NOR, HAM, HUL, ZHO stayed out PIA and HAM had an almighty tussle for 10+ laps HAM on original medium tires, PIA on fresh hards Stewards were busy Perez +5s for unsafe release during the safety car KMAG +10s for going off track AND +10s causing a collision with Albon Magnussen train → backing the field up to protect HUL during pit cycles V-CARB senior staff not happy about KMAG holding up the field “Unsportsmanlike behavior,” says Permane Another RBR 1-2 VER finishing 5s ahead of PER Bearman scored points on debut! → finishing P7 Leclerc rounded out the podium Post Race Mercedes still doesn’t understand the car and why it’s slow. At the start of the year, the team talked about how the W15’s pace was roughly on par with where the simulation data suggested it would be. However, post-Jeddah, Toto Wolff said the team is attempting to understand why the car is missing grip in key places versus the simulation data. He also suggested that the team were going to be working between Jeddah and Albert Park to try and find something in the setup (alluding to the team potentially doing something silly at Australia). IndyCar Quali Newgarden on pole → only 0.0058s over Rosenqvist Race First stint pretty quiet due to aggressive fuel-saving Lundgaard and Palou got together at T1 Lundgaard with a puncture Marcus Armstrong brought out the first caution at L27 T10 Called it “a costly mistake” Pit cycles during the caution shuffled Newgarden down to P5 Due to the earlier puncture and pit, Lundgaard stayed out and lead L35 caution for Sting Ray Robb off the track Luundgard pit here and fell down the order He’d finish P20 Newgarden retook the lead Ericsson retired due to a loss of power at L50 Lundqvist got punted by Grosjean at L69 T10 Grosjean was given a drive through penalty Grosjean’s car would break on L85 Newgarden would check out after the final caution and win Penske 1-3-4 (Newgarden, McLaughlin, and Power) Palou and Rossi would have quiet but productive days Palou started P13, finishing P6 → Rossi P15 to P8 Callum Illot replaced an injured David Malukas → P13
