Qualifying
• Multiple interruptions and the early termination of the session due to red flags prevented the three ART Grand Prix drivers from using their final sets of tires and optimizing their positions on the starting grid (Laurens 17th, James 22nd, Tuukka 25th).
Sprint Race
• Tuukka climbed up to 13th place, while Laurens and James retired after the Australian driver caused a collision during a restart on lap 3.
Feature Race
• With heavy rain and multiple incidents, the drivers completed fewer than 10 laps and didn’t have enough time to move up the order. Laurens gained five positions to finish 12th, ahead of Tuukka (20th) and James (21st).
Sébastien Philippe:
“After a very good winter testing, the team discovered the new car in competition in Melbourne. The weather conditions, combined with numerous neutralizations and red flags, made our task more difficult. But the most important thing was to keep a positive progression curve in order to find the right balance and optimize tire usage for the rest of the season.”
Tuukka Taponen:
“I wasn’t able to get any clean laps in qualifying, and we also lacked speed on the medium tires. We made significant setup changes for the sprint race, and I gained many positions despite several safety cars. The car’s performance was much better, but we couldn’t continue our progress on Sunday due to the rain-soaked race, which was shortened to just a few laps.”
Copyright: Dutch Photo Agency
