First contact of the season: stewards get busy in Australia

Photo: Race Pictures

Updated: 08:04, 06 Mar

Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.

Two incidents will be investigated after the second free practice session in Melbourne.

FP2 got off to an eventful start at the Australian Grand Prix. Just as the cars were about to leave the pit lane, George Russell and Arvid Lindblad made contact. The rookie ran into the Mercedes car’s front wing.

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Not the way Russell or Lindblad wanted to start FP2! 🫣 Here's the moment between the pair in the pit lane 👇 #F1 #AusGP

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5:07 AM · Mar 6, 2026

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Russell said over the team radio: "This guy just hit my front wing." Meanwhile, Lindblad was instructed by his race engineer that he has priority in the fast lane.

Russell's front wing was then changed by the Mercedes crew.

Colapinto also investigated

The Argentinian was going slowly on the main straight, with Lewis Hamilton having to take avoiding action. The Alpine driver will also be investigated after the session.

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F1-stand 2026

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	131
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	88
3	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	75
4	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	72
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	58
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	48
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	43
8	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	20
9	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	16
11	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	15
12	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	14
13	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
14	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	5
15	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	1
17	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	1
18	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
19	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
20	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
21	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0
22	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	0

Show Full Standings

First contact of the season: stewards get busy in Australia

Colapinto also investigated

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