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In an Australian Grand Prix rocked by three crimson flags and eight retirements, hometown prodigy Oscar Piastri collected his maiden System 1 factors on Sunday night.
And in a outstanding twist, the McLaren rookie completed within the factors courtesy of Alpine’s two drivers, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, crashing out of the race within the dying phases.
Piastri famously defected from Alpine in ugly circumstances in September final yr, after System 1’s Contract Recognition Board needed to make a name on whether or not Alpine or McLaren owned his signature.
AS IT HAPPENED: Australian Grand Prix
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Whereas Piastri was a member of the Alpine academy, and was an Alpine reserve driver for the 2022 System 1 world championship, he additionally had a take care of McLaren after signing as Daniel Ricciardo’s substitute.
An Australian Grand Prix already full of mayhem took its most chaotic flip of the day after the drivers set themselves for a restart with two laps remaining.
Carlos Sainz tagged Fernando Alonso, which led to Gasly and Ocon colliding and bombing out.
The race completed underneath a yellow flag as Max Verstappen cruised to his first Australian Grand Prix win.
Gasly and Ocon have been within the factors earlier than the final crash occurred, and whereas Piastri was positioned eleventh on the time, the 21-year-old completed eighth.
Piastri joined Mark Webber and Ricciardo in scoring his first profession factors in Melbourne.
Monster crash for F1 underdog stops Australian GP
Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso rounded out the podium, whereas the remainder of the highest 10 consisted of Lance Stroll, Sergio Perez, Lando Norris, Nico Hulkenberg, Piastri, Zhou Guanyu and Yuki Tsunoda.
Sainz copped a five-second penalty for clipping Alonso, leaving the Ferrari driver fuming as he plummeted from fourth to a Twelfth-placed end.
“That was absolute mayhem,” Jenson Button stated of the final restart.
David Croft described the late crash as “vastly pricey” for Alpine.
The primary crimson flag was introduced out following an Alex Albon crash on lap 9, with race management revealing gravel on the observe had prompted its choice to halt proceedings.
The second crimson flag was launched after Kevin Magnussen crashed on lap 55, along with his rear-right wheel falling off as particles from his Haas sprawled throughout the observe.
Then got here probably the most dramatic level of the race because the solar settled on an Australian Grand Prix that may by no means be forgotten.
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