Australia – Tests: Mini the fastest, Tsolov sends Dunne into the background

• The good start to the weekend by Gabriele Mini (Prema) will definitely go unnoticed since this free practice session was mainly marked by the collision between Nikola Tsolov (ART Grand Prix) and Alex Dunne (MP Motorsport).
• On a flying lap and in a very fast zone, the first city crossed the path of the second, then warming up his tires and without being aware that his counterpart was behind him. No doubt irritated by the latter's negligence, Nikola Tsolov visibly wanted to intimidate him with a steering wheel.
• No luck, he mismeasured the distance and hit Alex Dunne, sending him against the wall at the start of the third sector. Unless everything is truly voluntary. With the Irishman's MP Motorsport badly damaged, the race management had no choice but to wave the red flag. With less than 4 minutes on the clock, the session was not restarted. It remains to be seen what decision the commissioners will take, but it is hard to imagine Nikola Tsolov escaping a sanction.

So Dunne was either not instructed to move out of the way or did not look at his mirrors, two (ok, that's not funny), Tsolov does not cite a problem with the mirrors, he can put his gloves away for this weekend ! #F3

pic.twitter.com/JixyWW2E4M

— Gazou (@paddock_inside) March 21, 2024

• On a sporting level, Gabriele Mini was therefore the fastest. With a total of 17 laps completed, the Italian set a benchmark of 1'33"225 ahead of his compatriot Leonardo Fornaroli (Trident) by 0"345. Dino Beganovic (Prema) completed the Top 3.

• The only Frenchman entered, Sami Meguetounif (Trident) finished at 6^e ranked with a best attempt in 1'33"892.
• Note that a first red flag was presented half an hour before the end of the session. Christian Shields (Hitech GP) made a mistake in the last corner after putting his rear-left wheel on the grass, unable to avoid contact with the wall before the main straight.

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