Antonelli’s monster crash occurred near turn 2, smashing into the barrier after accelerating off the kerb. This incident, too, triggered a red flag.

Mercedes have emerged as one of the season’s early favourites after a positive pre-season test period in Bahrain and will be hoping to qualify on the front row for Sunday’s race, with Russell looking likely to take pole.

However, the team has a mighty task ahead to fix Antonelli’s car before Saturday’s qualifying session at 4pm (local time). Initial pictures from the track indicated his gearbox might have been damaged, which would dramatically impact his mechanics’ turnaround time.

Piastri’s former performance trainer Kim Keedle, an Australian who was in the paddock on Friday, was called up to work with Mercedes rival Russell this weekend because his own trainer was stuck overseas amid travel disruption caused by conflict in the Middle East.