🏎️ Saddle up, it's time to cry over men in race suits again! It's the F1 Australian Grand Prix! 🏎️

https://instagram.com/p/DHAnj9FoWQp
- We have new graphics for the season, because F1 needed to look just as messy on-screen as behind the scenes, I guess
- There are five rookies (six if you count Liam Lawson) on the grid this year, so lots of new faces and names to learn.
- Lando Norris WDC incoming? More likely than we all think.
- It is a truth universally acknowledged, that the best time to be a Ferrari fan is the off-season.
- It's a rainy day in Melbourne, so let's prepare for chaos (hopefully)

What happened in qualifying?
We finally get our first real look at the cars and... McLaren looks very fast. Ferrari not so fast. Williams doesn't look to bad?! Liam Lawson flops, while Yuki Tsunoda keeps proving why he should've been the one getting promoted. Lewis Hamilton is still getting used to the Ferrari, because it's very different to anything else he's driven.

Q1:
- Oliver Bearman goes out on track, immediately discovers a problem with the gear box, and fails to set a qualifying time
- Lando Norris sets a good time early and tops the rest of the session
- Fernando Alsonso looks to be setting a really good lap, but gets stopped by gravel in the road
- Blame Liam Lawson, who almost put his car into a barrier but narrowly avoided a crash
- Kimi Antonelli and Norris both hit the gravel in turn 6
- Lawson tries to get a lap in, but completely goes over the line in turn 10, then misses turn 13, and FAILS to get into Q2. Welcome to Red Bull, Lawson!
- In his final lap, Gabriel Bortoleto pushes fellow rookie Antonelli out of P15, ending his qualifying session. Bortoleto also qualifies above veteran and teammate Nico Hülkenberg.
- OUT: Bearman, Ocon, Lawson, Hülkenberg, Antonelli

Q2:
- The two McLarens top the session early
- Lots of people hitting various gravel traps and curbs, especially corner 6, 10, 12, and 13. "The car doesn't turn / [insert mechanical issue]"
- Ferrari is a struggle bus compared to McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull
- Bortoleto slides in turn 4 and completely ruins his final lap, but luckily doesn't crash
- Yellow flags! It's Lewis Hamilton who's spun the car. He doesn't set a final lap time, but still gets through to Q3
- Alonso doesn't set a time at all
- Both Williams cars are through to Q3!
- In the Battle of the Rookies, Hadjar comes out on top in P11
- Out: Alonso, Bortoleto, Doohan, Stroll, Hadjar

Q3:
- Norris has his first lap deleted due to track limits
- Verstappen leads the session before everyone goes out for their final laps
- Piastri takes provisional pole, but is quickly beaten by Norris
- Verstappen fails to match the two McLarens and goes P3
- Alex Albon in the Williams qualifies AHEAD of both Ferraris
- Tsunoda ALSO qualifies ahead of both Ferraris
- Norris on pole, and a McLaren front row lockout with Piastri in P2

https://instagram.com/p/DHORbs3Bqt2

Here's the grid for today:
https://instagram.com/p/DHNbFWmt4Uo

sources: header, rookies, grid



Pouring one out for beysactingcoach on this day 💔 You're dearly missed.