Fernando Alonso crashed his Alpine into a wall as qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix was red flagged for a second time.
The session had already been disrupted by a big crash involving Lance Stroll and Nicholas Latifi, which led to both drivers blaming one-another. While that one was a bizarre mix-up, it was a mechanical issue which took Alonso out of the session through no fault of his own.
The Spaniard was in the middle of what was looking like a very quick hot lap as he lost control of his car. As he tried to negotiate Turn 11, he found himself unable to change gear which meant he lost his line, left the track and, despite his best efforts to avoid it, came to rest in the wall.
Alonso may have suffered the commentators curse, as just seconds before the crash his pace was being praised by Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle. "Fernando has really been hustling, the old Fernando that we know so well," he said as he put in a purple middle sector in his Alpine.
Just moments later, Brundle and commentator David Croft were heard shouting: "Oh no," as the cameras cut to an on-board shot with Alonso, whose from-left wheel was damaged by the impact with the wall. Replays showed he had made several unsuccessful attempts to make the corner despite a gear change issue.
Alpine were understandable disappointed to see their driver crash, especially as he was on track to set a very quick time in qualifying. In a statement on social media, the team confirmed: "We’re investigating the issue that caused Fernando to crash at Turn 11 in Q3."
The crash means Alonso will start Sunday's race in 10th, having failed to set a time in Q3. His team-mate Esteban Ocon did manage to get in a hot lap, which was enough to start a row ahead in eighth place, with both Alpines sandwiching Carlos Sainz of Ferrari.
Pole position was secured by Charles Leclerc, who set the fastest time in a Ferrari for the first time at Albert Park in 15 years. The Monegasque racer was two tenths faster than Red Bull duo Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, who will start the race second and third respectively.
