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The first day of proper Formula 1 on-track running at the Madring didn't produce the predicted chaos.
A first day of F1 track action at a venue is always scary times, especially for a track that was tipped to be an immediate cauldron of chaos.
This was largely true in Formula 3 and Formula 2 - but the Formula 1 grid by and large kept things tidy, and first impressions up and down the field seem seriously positive.
This has to be caveated with the note that, as always, it's in everyone's best interest to speak highly of the new race, and there are serious question marks over the quality of race action on Sunday - though unexpectedly high tyre wear might help.
"We've seen street circuits come and go in Formula 1 - and it feels already like this is one that's here to stay," rejoiced Mercedes deputy team boss Bradley Lord.
"I think putting the perfect lap together tomorrow in qualifying is going to be a real challenge and that's exactly what it should be."
"I think it's a very, very impressive facility," said Racing Bulls chief Alan Permane. "It doesn't feel like a new street track they've just sort of slapped down in a car park, it really feels like they've taken some time and effort and put together a really interesting circuit. Really impressed."
Drivers weren't necessarily unanimous (Max Verstappen, for instance, just doesn't care for street circuits in principle, as he admitted), but there was significant praise on that end, too, with Pierre Gasly saying he "really loved it" and Charles Leclerc appreciating a "commitment" track with higher grip than expected. - Valentin Khorounzhiy
OK, not everybody kept it clean - with Lindblad the outlier, triggering a long slide that ended with a right-rear-first smack into the Turn 13 barriers. "It looked quite bad, but actually the impact was not very hard," he said afterwards. "Charles did it in much more spectacular fashion in Monza!
"Yeah, there's a bit of damage, it's a good amount, quite a lot, but nothing that's not repairable. So I just apologise to the engineers, but especially the mechanics, because they've got a bit of extra work tonight, unfortunately." - VK
Even with the crash, both Lindblad and his boss Permane were remarkably, tellingly bullish - believing his mere 0.228s deficit to the front was a genuine signal.
"It's not really mixed emotions, I'd much rather be in 4th place with a damaged car than 18th place with a car with four wheels on," enthused Permane.
"It's not ideal of course, and we certainly can't do that every weekend - but we can accept that.
"There's no doubt the car is quick, very quick, it's properly P4 pace today, and I don't say it'll be P4 pace tomorrow afternoon, but it'll be right up there, I think."
Lindblad said: "We were P4 on merit. Every lap we did in FP2 we were fast, so that's the most important thing." - VK
Reporting synthesized and verified under Nexvoro.tech editorial guidelines. Full primary records referenced via Google News US Sports.
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