In an unpredictable turn of events, McLaren’s agile driver Lando Norris outstripped reigning world champion Max Verstappen during the Australian F1 practice session. The unexpected spectacle took place when Alex Albon encountered a high-speed collision with a wall, causing a disruption in the practice session.
Norris’ Stellar Performance
The British sensation Norris dominated the Albert Park circuit, clocking in his best time of one minute 18.564 seconds on soft tyres. Midway through the hour-long session, he snatched the lead from Red Bull’s Verstappen, who fought back with a lightning-fast final lap but still fell 0.018 seconds short.
Verstappen’s Pursuit of Records
Despite winning the season’s first two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Verstappen’s victories were largely eclipsed by internal disturbances within the Red Bull team. The 26-year-old affirmed his commitment to his contract until 2028, expressing his intent to dismiss off-track disruptions and focus on setting new records at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.
Verstappen is on a quest to secure a 10th consecutive victory, which would equalize his own record set the previous year. Additionally, Red Bull is aiming to accomplish a third consecutive 1-2 finish, a feat that has never been achieved in the team’s history.
Other Notable Performances
Mercedes’ George Russell secured the third position, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Yuki Tsunoda, another Red Bull driver, sprung a surprise by finishing fifth. Sergio Perez, in the second Red Bull car, ended in sixth place, with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll following him.
Carlos Sainz of Ferrari managed to secure the eighth position, ahead of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. This marked Sainz’s first race since his surgery for appendicitis two weeks ago, which made him miss the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He stated that he would evaluate his health after practice before deciding whether to race.
An Eventful Practice
Hamilton was one of the early front-runners, setting the pace on medium tyres. However, he reported “a long brake pedal” on the radio, and his time was soon outdone, with Perez becoming the first driver to break the 1:20 barrier.
The session saw its fair share of drama. Fernando Alonso skidded into the gravel at turn 11, and Russell nearly lost control at turn 10. Valtteri Bottas spun his Sauber at turn 10, and Albon crashed into the wall at turn 8 in his Williams. The collision caused significant damage to the right side of his car, both at the front and the rear, scattering debris across the track. Assuring his team over the radio, Albon confirmed, “I’m ok,” and exited the car, seemingly unharmed.
The session resumed with nine minutes remaining, but no one could surpass Norris’ top time.
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