During the second qualifying session for the Australian Grand Prix, F1 rookie Arvid Lindblad narrowly avoided a collision with his teammate Liam Lawson. The incident, involving Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, occurred at Melbourne’s Albert Park.
Incident Overview
As the qualifying session neared its conclusion, all three Audi drivers were competing in the top-10 shoot-out. However, Bortoleto unexpectedly slowed his pace during his in-lap and drove very slowly into the pit lane. Lawson, directly behind Bortoleto, was unable to react quickly enough. Lindblad, trailing them, had to brake suddenly to prevent a crash.
Driver Reactions
Lindblad expressed his frustration after the incident. He reported to his team, saying, “My God! The car is fine, but I almost had a massive crash. I don’t know what the f* is going on in the pit entry. Check the car. I think it’s fine, but check. Potential front wing.” This indicates that he was not aware of Bortoleto’s slowing pace due to radio communication issues.
Technical Issues for Bortoleto
Bortoleto ultimately encountered a technical problem that compromised his performance. His car was unable to proceed into Q3. The team attributed this situation to a “technical issue during his in-lap at the end of Q2.”
Key Takeaways
- Arvid Lindblad narrowly avoided a collision with Liam Lawson.
- Incident involved Bortoleto slowing unexpectedly in the pit lane.
- Lindblad reported confusion regarding the situation over team radio.
- Bortoleto was unable to participate in Q3 due to a technical issue.
