18.06.2024McLaren in Australia 2023: First points after controversial race finish

Controversial discussions about race management decisions have probably been a part of Formula 1 for at least as long as the McLaren team. A particularly striking example of this is the World Championship showdown in Abu Dhabi in 2021, which was significantly influenced by the controversial safety-car procedure. But the FIA ??race management also had to put up with a lot of criticism at the Australian Grand Prix in 2023. The Grand Prix in Melbourne's Albert Park ended with a pile of scrap after three interruptions.

However, the chaotic race also paved the way for McLaren's first World Championship points in what had been a sobering season up to that point. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri managed to avoid the hustle and bustle and finished the race in sixth and eighth place.

The points haul in Down Under was a first breakthrough for McLaren on the way back to the midfield of the premier class. In previous years, the team led by Andreas Seidl had often shone. But during the test drives ahead of the 2023 season, Lando Norris and newcomer Oscar Piastri, who follows Daniel Ricciardo, were often among the backbenchers. In the first races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, both were not without a chance, but points were out of the question.

The situation at the third stop of the year in Australia did not look too rosy either. Norris and Piastri started 13th and 16th respectively. However, both made it through the Grand Prix unscathed, which should be a key to scoring points. The first interruption was already on the eighth lap after Alex Albon had an accident in the Williams. Shortly before the end, the race was interrupted for a second time with the red flag after an accident by Kevin Magnussen in the Haas.

At this point, the race could have been awarded full points. The fact that the race management nevertheless decided to start again over just two laps was therefore not met with approval everywhere - especially since the consequences were very far-reaching. In the first few corners there were several accidents and collisions, which resulted in a total of four more cars being completely destroyed and several more being damaged.

After the crash festival, the race was over. While Max Verstappen stood on the podium ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were delighted with sixth and eighth places, the first World Championship points for McLaren in the 2023 season and for rookie Piastri the first points of his still young Formula 1-career.

Minichamps has replicated the two McLaren MCL60s from resin in scale 1:18 and true to the original as usual. The cars are particularly impressive thanks to the lovingly crafted cockpit replica including the driver figure. The models are a limited edition with 222 copies per car, available exclusively at ck-modelcars. The models are delivered in a high-quality collector's folding box and including the individual pit boards.

Lando Norris McLaren MCL60 #4 6th Australia GP Formula 1 2023 1:18, RRP €199.95, item-no.: 533231804

Oscar Piastri McLaren MCL60 #81 8th Australia GP Formula 1 2023 1:18 Minichamps, RRP €199.95, item-no.: 533231881

Products

	Lando Norris McLaren MCL60 #4 6th Australia GP Formula 1 2023 1:18 Minichamps	179,95 €
	Oscar Piastri McLaren MCL60 #81 8th Australian GP Formula 1 2023 1:18 Minichamps	179,95 €