The Australian blistering sun hung low and heavy in the late Friday afternoon sky, painting the Albert Park paddock in long, molten shadows. The air still carried the bite of earlier heat, but now it was mixed with the sharper scents of fresh fuel, hot brakes, and overwhelming crowd anticipation.
Engines growled in nearby garages as teams made their final preparations for the Qualifying section. The paddock buzzed like a kicked hive — mechanics shouted clipped instructions, journalists darted between hospitality units with microphones ready, and the distant roar of a lone car doing installation laps echoed off the grandstands.
Leo Kaito stood at the back of the Arcadia garage, arms crossed, watching the number 24 car on its stands.
