Chaos wins in Melbourne after a bleak GP

There is something in the Formula 1 manages to beat itself every time. In the chaos that she manages to create when the regulation is applied in borderline situations. We’ve seen it all in the past: in Spa a victory given without even completing a lap, in Abu Dhabi a World Championship decided by a brainy interpretation. But a Melbourne we arrived at 8.90 Beamon, something that may not be beaten for many years. A race finished with the safety car (and this would be nothing) but with a checkered flag displayed and no one being able to go looking for victory. This is not good, it is not acceptable. A show lasting 2 hours and 40 minutes that ends with a little train after three departures and as many red flags is unacceptable. It is unacceptable to de facto sterilize a result before the third restart and not restore positions even to those who hit the block due to an accident in that situation.

Anyone who went back to sleep after Leclerc was released and turned on the TV two hours later will have thought they were living like in the film: Groundhog Day. That is, to be faced with something already seen that was repeated. At 7 the first green light, at 9 the third. He missed the second standing start around 7.15 but basically saw a GP in two laps. It must have been the presence of Michael Masi, the unforgettable race director who was the protagonist of the finale that cost Hamilton the world title in 2021. Masi is Australian and was at Albert Park to see his home GP. And fate was there waiting for him, together with his successor Niels Wittich. Because once again it was chaos.

Leclerc’s race ends in the third corner, the victim of a reckless attempt by the Monegasque to pass Lance Stroll, while Russell puts a lazy Verstappen behind. On the seventh lap Alexander Albon loses his Williams and crashes dangerously into the barriers. Only a miracle prevents Hulkenberg from hitting it. Once the danger has passed, the first red flag is displayed. Everyone in the pits to change tyres. Excessive. And above all devastating for those who had entered the pits as soon as possible to take advantage of the tire change during the safety (Russell and Sainz, among those in the top positions, with the British who was ahead of everyone). But if that red flag, questionable for timing but with at least one race ahead to recover, the one displayed at the 55th after Hulkenberg’s exit at the 54th has called everything into question: everyone with red tyres, a standing start and two laps to dispute. But at the third start, everything happens, the drivers smell the scent of a turnaround and the combination with cold tires generates a sensational series of accidents. Both Aston Martins go out, the Alpines do even worse and print against the barriers. Plus other assorted. Obviously another red flag. Moments of great embarrassment. What to do? Starting again from stationary with the survivors, with the risk of a new bean, or thus closing with the classification of the lap prior to the third start given that the 57th lap was not completed. Great advice in racing direction. Everyone tries to bring grist to their own mill. Sainz would be third, but someone legitimately thinks that the slap he gave Alonso at the third start should be sanctioned.

Wittich decides to put everyone behind the safety car for one lap but giving everyone back the previous positions at the third, ruinous, start. Then Alonso third and Sainz fourth. But the Ferrari driver is given a 5-second penalty. And since the restart is a farce, that is, safety returns with everyone behind and immediately returns to the pits. But from that moment there is only the final straight to go and once the drivers are left alone on the track they immediately find themselves at the checkered flag. And therefore those 5 seconds of penalty for Sainz cost him relegation to 12th place. And for the poor Alpines, with Gasly fifth and Ocon in the points too, all that remains is to chew bitter because it was impossible for them to start again for that bogus last lap. Really bad epilogue, once again. See you in almost a month, in Baku on April 28th. It’s better that way.

Post Scriptum: the race was won by Verstappen ahead of Hamilton and Alonso.