Chaos and confusion reigned supreme in an incident-packed Australian Grand Prix with a minimum of two security vehicles and three pink flags amid the chaos in Melbourne.
The primary pink flag – for gravel and particles thrown onto the observe by Alex Albon’s shunt – raised query marks and arguably ruined the race. The second, which adopted an preliminary security automotive interval identical to the one earlier than it, was once more for vital particles that littered the observe after Kevin Magnussen hit the wall on lap 54.
This arrange a second standing restart and teased the prospect of an exciting two-lap sprint to find out the winner. However chaos ensued when Fernando Alonso was thrown right into a spin at Flip 1 and a number of other others crashed, leading to a 3rd and remaining pink flag.
The FIA utilized an identical precept eventually 12 months’s British Grand Prix and deemed the beginning a draw, inflicting confusion and controversy over the order and the way the race would finish. After some delay, it ended with the order being reset and just one lap behind the protection automotive.
A remaining standings weren’t launched till late that night when a subsequent protest of the end result by the Haas crew was dismissed.
Many have noticed how the choices made in Australia mirror F1’s want to make sure races finish in inexperienced flag situations, and a few have argued this highlights a push in direction of elevated leisure.
Max Verstappen blamed race management for the ‘mess’, George Russell felt the primary pink flag was ‘completely pointless’, and even Alonso, who received greater than a lot of the remaining stoppage, admitted that he was “shocked” by the calls.
Is an overhaul or clarification of the process subsequently crucial?
“The pink flag curiosity – it is prefer it’s simply to placed on a present,” McLaren’s Lando Norris stated.
“I am driving the automotive, so I really feel like I might have been so unfortunate for no cause. I might have simply crashed with (Nico) Hulkenberg on the finish, as a result of you could have folks leaving and also you out of the blue swerve and issues like that.
“So we have come all the way in which to Australia however it’s a lot onerous work to drive 55/56 laps completely and since they’re attempting to placed on a present you are unfortunate and every part might be taken from you out of the blue.
“I simply assume he wants a bit thought. I do not assume he wants a change, he simply wants a bit overhaul in my view.”
Discontent will enhance the stress already beneath the FIA. F1’s governing physique has been usually criticized for its decision-making over current seasons, culminating within the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Within the now well-known title-clinching showdown, Michael Masi’s mishandling of a late security automotive straight influenced the championship end result, robbing Lewis Hamilton of a report eighth title and permitting Verstappen to grab his first.
And the person on the coronary heart of one in all F1’s largest controversies was there to witness what appeared like a chaotic race ending in his first look within the paddock since that fateful night time in Abu Dhabi.
A protection for the FIA
Not everybody agreed with the way in which the race was dealt with.
Regardless of the confusion, the foundations have been finally adopted by race director Niels Wittich and the FIA, as Mercedes boss Toto Wolff identified.
“We checked out it – it was the rule e-book,” Wolff stated. “It was a bit complicated, however it felt prefer it was written.
“Clearly outcomes like this are good for some groups and unhealthy for others, however when you throw a pink flag and you’ve got a crash with one lap to go…
“I simply obtained a name from Susie (Wolff, Toto’s spouse). She stated it was nice early morning leisure on a Sunday.
“I do not know if that was the case. We’re so in our little bubble right here watching the lap instances!
Though there’s a threat Verstappen missed out on victory, Crimson Bull crew principal Christian Horner stated the ultimate pink flag was “the suitable factor to do”.
“If you’re the chief, you possibly can solely lose from then on,” he defined. “You’ll be able to see the logic between wanting to complete in race situations fairly than driving behind the protection automotive for 3 laps.
“Perhaps they might have cleared the circuit and obtained it began, I do not know. Like all this stuff, there’s all the time one thing to study.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s Martin Brundle additionally defended the FIA.
“I do not assume there have been any directions for this look to be made when wanted,” Brundle stated. “You must stroll a mile within the sneakers of the folks accountable.
“It is easy for us to take a seat on the sidelines saying ‘I ought to have completed this, I ought to have completed that’.
“In 2009, Felipe Massa almost died with a bit of another person’s automotive going by means of his cockpit.
“It is also a avenue circuit there with a number of followers on both aspect of the observe and likewise marshals and docs who’re there. So if there’s particles on the observe you do not you possibly can’t fly them by means of the air at a couple of hundred miles an hour.
“I assumed when Alex Albon left perhaps they might have used a security automotive, swept the gravel and cleared the automotive.
“A pink flag may need appeared a bit pointless however in direction of the tip of the race we had a tire and wheel on the observe and a number of particles.
“I am completely satisfied that nobody is on the market to say ‘hey, let’s make this a bit extra enjoyable’.
“Whether or not we have been making crystal clear choices within the stress of the second, we clearly misplaced Charlie Whiting in Melbourne the place he sadly handed away after which we went by means of the Michael Masi section that everybody is aware of, particularly Abu Dhabi 2021.
“Then they shared the position, now we now have a man referred to as Niels Wittich.
“Is he making the suitable choices? However on the finish of the day, we’re sitting right here and we’re not 1% accountable if somebody is killed or injured.
What occurred in Melbourne will little question proceed to be a subject of debate that may carry over into the subsequent race.
