Home F1 Australian GP: Norris leads close FP1 amid disruption, offs

Australian GP: Norris leads close FP1 amid disruption, offs

22/03/2024

Lando Norris headed FP1 in F1 Australian GP ahead of Max Verstappen and George Russell, with a close finish in the Top 10.

It wasn’t the smoothest of FP1 session in F1 Australian GP where whole set of drivers had several moments in the high-speed section, going off on the gravel and riding the kerb. It led to many radio chatter about floor damage from multiple drivers.

The field was close still with the Top 6 drivers separated by just the 0.078s margin, as McLaren’s Lando Norris set the pace with a 1m18.564s lap just before the red flag. He headed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by just the 0.018s margin.

The Dutchman had a Turn 9 kerb moment post the red flag and left it until after the chequered flag to improve to second along with Mercedes’ George Russell in third. The Brit too had a high-speed moment earlier in the session where he could save the car.

The improvements dropped Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda to fourth and fifth after they set their best time before the red flag. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was sixth, but he had his moment too which disrupted his fast lap.

Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was seventh away from the dramas, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in eighth while carrying pain from his appendix operation. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton was ninth despite his own grass moment at Turn 1 and kerb ride at Turn 9.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri rounded out the Top 10, finishing 0.354s behind teammate Norris. Visa Cash App RB’s Daniel Ricciardo was 11th from Williams’ Alexander Albon – both completing their best lap on the medium compound.

The Thai’s session ended a bit early after crashing out at Turn 6-7 where he lost control after a kerb ride to hit the wall at the right. His teammate Logan Sargeant was 14th behind Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, as Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was 15th.

The Frenchman set the pace on the medium compound as the Top 15 were covered within a second of Norris’ time. Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg was 16th from Alpine’s Pierre Gasly as Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was only 18th in the order.

The Spaniard had a gravel moment at Turn 9 which required a floor change, as Stake F1 Team’s – who are using the Kick Sauber name – Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas rounded the 20 runners, where the Finn too ran the gravel at the same corner.

The Finn set his pace on the medium compound, while teammate Guanyu had a pit moment where he overshot his stop. Among the new PU elements, Williams’ took a second Energy Store and Control Electronics for Sargeant.