Bahrain Defending champions Red Bull sent engineers to help cool down rival Alpine's A524, during the first F1 qualifying round of the 2024 season in Sakhir.
During qualifying on March 1, Alpine was unexpectedly called to the weigh station for a random inspection. While Esteban Ocon’s car was being weighed, two Red Bull engineers appeared and used fans to cool the French driver’s engine.
The fan was previously used to cool the Red Bull cars of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. Cooling the car as quickly as possible while it is stopped helps protect the engine and improve performance.
Red Bull engineers (circled in red) help cool down an Alpine during the Sakhir F1 qualifying round in Bahrain on March 1, 2024. Photo: @AlertaF1
Red Bull's move was praised for its sportsmanship on social media. Reddit user mydogsnameiskendrick wrote: "When you see someone else's car broken down on the side of the road, you should stop and help them." IDoEz commented: "I always love to see such sportsmanship." RobertGracie responded: "Alpine also lent Sauber some technical equipment last year for the Australian leg."
However, according to GPFans , this rarely happens in F1 races, because the engineers are in the right place at the right time. "Maybe the defending champion team felt sorry for Alpine when this car seemed to be the slowest in Bahrain," commented the F1 website. "Ocon also complained that the A524 looked slow, even before its debut."
The 2024 F1 season returns this weekend, with the first race in Sakhir, Bahrain. Verstappen took pole position after winning qualifying in 1:29.179, 0.228 seconds ahead of second-placed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. The RB20 has proven to be the fastest car this season, but Alpine is different. Both Ocon and Pierre Gasly were slowest in qualifying, clocking in at 1:30.70, more than 1.6 seconds slower than Verstappen.
The 2024 F1 season will feature 10 teams, four of which will use Mercedes engines: Aston Martin, McLaren, Mercedes and Williams. Three will use Ferraris: Sauber, Haas and Ferrari. Two will use Hondas: Red Bull and Honda. Alpine will be the only team to use Renault engines.
The main race of the Sakhir stage will take place at 10pm today, Sunday, March 2, Hanoi time.
Xuan Binh
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