Ugly scenes play out as Aussie nightmare unfolds at Spanish Grand Prix

Ugly scenes have unfolded at the Spanish Grand Prix with multiple incidents playing out ahead of a blockbuster qualifying session.

James McKernSports Reporter

@jLmcKern

2 min read

June 23, 2024 - 6:51AM

Ugly incident unfolds during Spanish Grand Prix practice session

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Ugly scenes have played out at the Spanish Grand Prix as the grid for Sunday’s race was locked in.

While things got heated during the final practice session, a nightmare unfolded for Aussie duo Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri as qualifying took place.

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Ricciardo and his VISA Cash App RB team have struggled for pace all weekend and it was a similar situation in qualifying with the Aussie and teammate Yuki Tsunoda being eliminated in the Q1.

The teammates will line up from the second last row with Tsunoda marginally pipping Ricciardo to claim 17th spot.

It wasn’t as bad for Piastri however, as he made it into Q3 but his session was ruined when his first flying lap was scrubbed off the board for a track limit infringement.

In his final attempt to move up the grid the rising Aussie star lost control and ended up in the gravel meaning he’ll start from 10th on the grid.

His teammate Lando Norris had far better luck and will start the race from pole position after edging out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.020.

Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were next best ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Norris is on pole for the Spanish Grand Prix. (Photo by Thomas COEX / POOL / AFP)

While it was elation for Norris in qualifying, the Brit driver was involved in an ugly moment during the final practice session.

Leclerc took issue with Norris after he appeared to get in his way as he drove around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya near turn 5.

The Ferrari star made his way past Norris before he tapped on the brakes and moved towards his fellow driver with minor contact between the pair.

Leclerc offered up a single expletive over his team radio while Norris reported damage as he said: “He (Leclerc) just drove into me”.

Watch the ugly incident unfold in the video player above

Leclerc bumps into Norris in practice

It wasn’t the only shock incident out of the final practice session with Lance Stroll and Lewis Hamilton also coming together.

As Hamilton slowly made his way around the track, he attempted to move off the racing line after not seeing Stroll coming in hot behind him.

But as Hamilton moved to the outside of the track at turn 5, Stroll dished out some punishment to his rival by appearing to drive into him.

Stroll left little room as he made his way past Hamilton, with the front left tyre of the Mercedes coming into contact with the Aston Martin’s side pod.

“I didn’t see him, my bad,” Hamilton said over team radio.

Stroll was much less pleasant with his radio message as he said: “This f***ing guy thinks he’s alone on the track.”

Despite both ugly incidents, Stroll and Leclerc avoided penalties with their manoeuvres deemed erratic but not dangerous.