Fans of Formula 1 have hailed the weekend’s Australian Grand Prix as a great success, despite a number of smashes and spin outs affecting the fortunes of local favourites.
Highlighting Australia’s growing passion for motorsport, a record-breaking crowd of 465,498 fans attended across the three-day race weekend in Melbourne, undeterred by extreme weather conditions that fluctuated between high heat and heavy rain.
The race began with a bang, when 20-year-old rookie Isaac Hadjar spun out in the formation lap of the race. But the no.2 driver for Alpha Tauri was not alone, with Aussie rookie Jack Doohan, driving for Alpine, out in the first lap and Carlos Sainz, of Williams, sending his car into a wall shortly after.
Melbournite Oscar Piastri also spun out at a crucial point in the race, to drop from second to 15th position, before clawing his way back to ninth. After 45 years domestic fans will have to wait a bit longer for a local to podium, let alone win in their home Grand Prix.
To add to the chaos both Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and world champion, and eventual second place getter (behind Lando Norris), Max Vestappen, struggled in the wet conditions, slipping and sliding out of comfortable poisitions and having to work their way back. The drama continued with yellow flags waved for Fernando Alonso, after an incident in Lap 34, and with Liam Lawson, no.2 driver for Redbull and Gabriel Bortoleto, driver for Kick Sauber, also spinning out after a category three weather warning.
The racers line up. Photo courtesy Redbull Content Pool.
The much anticipated Ferrari debut of Lewis Hamilton was a partial successful, with the 40-year-old leading the race at one point before also losing control and dropping back in the field to 10th.
The spills, however, did not lessen the enjoyment of the race for fans, who came away praising the spectacle.
Sydney dad and Ferrari fan Abdiel Ishmar, 38, who was attending the race with his five sons, said the Melbourne GP was a great way to introduce children to the sport.
“Starting them young,” he laughed. “It is always a refreshing sight to see when the motorsport scene gets younger and younger attention each year.”
It is the third year Abdiel has attended the race and the second for his boys.
“They couldn’t get enough the first time, so they forced me to bring them a second!” he added.
When asked who their favourite driver was, all five loudly exclaimed “LECLERC!”
Abdiel Ishmar, 38, and his sons. Photo: Helena Ristevski.
Emmanuel Rispal, 31, and partner Emma O’Halloran, 32, have been loyal followers of Mercedes for eight years, but switched to Ferrari with Lewis Hamilton’s move.
The Sydneysiders have come to Victoria every race weekend since 2018, driven by their passionate “love for the sport”.
“Even if you’re watching the F1 on the TV at home, you don’t get the hands-on experience of spectating in real-life,” said Rispal.
“I think everyone should come to the F1 at least once in their life, even just to say you’ve gone.”
Partner O’Halloran agreed. “The F1 always has such a good vibe, you come in person to experience that, which is something you can’t do when your sitting behind a TV at home,” she said.
Couple Emmanuel Rispal, 31, and Emma O’Halloran, 32, were Mercedes fans but have Followed Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari. Photo: Helena Ristevski.
Long-time Ferrari fan David Linatti, 40, who has been to the Melbourne GP 10 times, this year decided to introduce his son Adrian, 10, to the event and to see the “new addition to Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, but especially Leclerc”.
“I’ve never gone,” said Adrian, “but I wanted to go this year because Dad and I always watch it on TV.”
David added that the F1 had been a bonding experience with his own father and a “key part” of his childhood. “We hope to make it a family tradition one day,” he laughed.
“Who knows, maybe Adrian’s kids will come with him too?”
Main photo of David and Adrian Linatti by Helena Ristevski.
