Front wing damage cost us chance of reaching Q3 – Albon

RaceFans Round-up

Posted on

| Written by

In the round-up: Alexander Albon believes he had a genuine shot of taking a top 10 starting position for the Bahrain Grand Prix before he suffered front wing damage.

Join RaceFans on Facebook

Don't miss anything from RaceFans - join us on Facebook here to see whenever a new article has been added:

In brief

Williams could have reached Q3 but for front wing damage – Albon

Albon qualified 15th on the grid after abandoning his only flying lap in Q2 and failed to set a time. The Williams driver lost an adjustor flap on the left side of his front wing through turn three, which led to him running wide at turn four and six, ruining his lap.

“Unfortunately, in Q2 my front wing broke,” Albon explained. “One of the flaps came off.

“When I look at the cut-off times, there was pace in the car, because I had traffic in my last two corners on my Q1 lap and I knew there was at least a couple of tenths on the table there. Which makes it frustrating, because I do believe we would’ve definitely had a chance in Q3 today.

“I am very proud of everyone at the factory. We put it all together today. I say it again, but I really mean it, we could have been in Q3 today.”

Stroll also broke toe in cycling crash

Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free

Lance Stroll has revealed he also broke his toe as well has injuring his hand in the cycling accident he suffered prior to pre-season testing.

The Aston Martin driver qualified eighth for today’s grand prix after missing all of pre-season testing following surgery on his hand after falling off his bike while training.

“It’s exactly two weeks today since my accident,” Stroll told media including RaceFans after qualifying. “Couldn’t move both hands, couldn’t walk.

“I had a broken toe as well – big toe, right foot. The light was very far at the end of the tunnel. Came out of surgery 12 days ago, got out of the hospital 10 days ago. So I’m pretty grateful and just happy to be here.”

Penske enrols first woman on pit crew

Team Penske have announced that mechanic Caitlyn Brown will join the pit crew on Josef Newgarden’s car for the upcoming IndyCar season – the first woman to form a member of a pit crew in any team in Penske’s history.

The 24-year-old is entering her second season with the team and will take on the role of inside front tyre changer. She previously took on a supporting role of removing tear-offs from the car’s aeroscreen.

“It’s always special to be able to say, ‘I was the first’,” Brown said. “To be able to say I was first for something at Team Penske is an in incredible honour. I’ve worked hard to get to be where I am today but I couldn’t have done without all the guys at the shop who have pushed me, supported me, and showed me the way.”

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

Social media

Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

Comment of the day

The first qualifying session of the 2023 season seemed to suggest a closer field than last year, but PeterG is careful about reading too much into yesterday’s times…

The problem with Bahrain starting the season is that it can give a false impression as it’s a fairly unique circuit in terms of what you need from a good car and especially how it uses tyres. The Aston Martin team has also in it’s various names tended to go fairly well here in part because they always seem to produce a car that is kinder on it’s tyres which is maybe why Fernando has tended to be stronger in sector 3 all weekend so far.

Additionally they spent 3 days testing here a week ago so it’s not that surprising that things are so close given how setups should all better refined than they will be on other weekends.

I just think the commentators that are using some of what we have seen so far as proof it’s going to be a super close season with 4 teams and 6-7 drivers in the fight are setting people up for disappointment.

Need to wait to get to some more normal circuits that are more representative of the wider season.
PeterG

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to Idr, Jarred Walmsley, Tommyb, Jake and James!

On this day in motorsport

  • Born on this day in 1975: Luciano Burti

Author information

Will Wood
Will has been a RaceFans contributor since 2012 during which time he has covered F1 test sessions, launch events and interviewed drivers. He mainly...

Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

3 comments on “Front wing damage cost us chance of reaching Q3 – Albon”

  1. Profile Photo

    Short Circuit (@jjohn)
    5th March 2023, 2:12

    For me the most interesting point of the Stroll interview (as reported on Oz yahoo with credit to Evening Standard) was this.

    Stroll said the broken toe was painful “but not anything that’s limiting me to drive” and that he is taking painkillers to help get through his time in the car.

    I can understand an injection to numb affected area, but I would like to know what oral (assuming they are oral) , or transdermal patch !!? painkillers are allowed while competing.

    Anyone know?

  2. Profile Photo

    Jere (@jerejj)
    5th March 2023, 5:49

    The front wing damage went unnoticed on broadcast, but the next qualifying will give a better idea of Williams’ Q3 chances if he gets an issue-free session.

    Motor Sport: Merely a coincidence that the first-race winner hasn’t won the championship post-2016, but more often than not, this did happen from 2000 onwards & I fully expect Max can break the current streak.

    Asking Michael Andretti about something directly unconcerning is weird.

    While COTD makes a valid point, BIC is at least more representative than Albert Park, although versus Jeddah Corniche Circuit (the most likely 2024 opener) is another matter.

  3. MichaelN
    5th March 2023, 14:20

    Not sure on the COTD.

    In 2022, the podium in Bahrain was split between Ferrari and Red Bull. In 2021, between Mercedes and Red Bull. In 2020, between Mercedes and Red Bull. In 2019, between Mercedes and Ferrari. In 2018, between Ferrari and Mercedes. In 2017, between Ferrari and Mercedes. That’s pretty much just like the rest of the season.

    It’s always a bit more mixed between the also-rans from P6 through P12 or so. But that happens at every track.

Comments are closed.