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F1 rookie Arvid Lindblad came within inches of crashing into Racing Bulls team-mate Liam Lawson due to an issue involving Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto.

At the end of the second session of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne's Albert Park, and with all three drivers into the top-10 shoot-out, Bortoleto suddenly slowed on his in-lap.

The Brazilian then crawled into the pit lane, with Lawson directly behind him. As the duo inched their way along, Lindblad powered in behind them and was forced to hit the brakes, just avoiding running into the back of his New Zealand team-mate.

Lindblad had clearly not been informed of the situation involving Bortoleto over his team radio.

Reporting to the team, he said: "My God! The car is fine, but I almost had a massive crash. I don't know what the f*** is going on in the pit entry. Check the car. I think it's fine, but check. Potential front wing."

After eventually grinding to a halt in the pit lane, Bortoleto was unable to part in Q3 due to what the team described as "a technical issue during his in-lap at the end of Q2."

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