The Albert Park Circuit, modified prior to last year's race and thus shortened to 5.278 km, is a temporary track partially run on public roads.
As part of the modifications, new tarmac was laid. We normally see the biggest shift in grip levels from the first year to the second as the tarmac ages, before it then settles in.
The circuit was resurfaced with some metallic elements included in the aggregate, improving the grip from the tyres. The asphalt is smoother than other tracks on the championship, with peak grip only achieved after several sessions of on-track running.
Melbourne has one of the shortest pit lanes on the calendar at just 281 metres. Cars therefore spend only about 13 seconds at pit lane speed.
A fourth DRS zone, between turns 8 and 9, has once again been added for the race in Melbourne; it was implemented last year but removed following Friday Practice.
There is a slight difference in the chosen tyres from Pirelli this year with the C2, C3, and C4 compound the choice. Last year the C2, C3, and C5 were used.
Formula 2 and Formula 3 will join Albert Park's support race schedule for the first time this year.
There is a considerable time difference between Melbourne and the teams back in Europe supporting remotely, adding another level of challenge to the weekend.
This is complicated even further with the clocks 'going backwards' in Australia on early Sunday morning of the Grand Prix weekend. The time difference to UK at the start of the weekend is 10 hours and reduced to nine hours for race day once Daylight saving time ends.
The C2 is the P Zero White Hard, C3 the P Zero Yellow Medium and C4 the P Zero Red Soft for the Australian Grand Prix.
The FIA has confirmed four DRS zones at Albert Park. So this year could feature the fastest top speeds ever seen in Melbourne, which in theory could reach 340kph.
The energy demands on the tyres at the Australian Grand Prix are about average for the season, with contained levels of abrasion.
The new layout inaugurated last year favours overtaking, especially in the second sector.
A car setup biased towards traction can be particularly helpful on the exit of corners to increase the chance of a successful overtaking move on the circuit’s short straights.
The Australian Grand Prix has traditionally opened the championship since it moved from Adelaide to Melbourne in 1996. This was the case until 2019, with the only exceptions being 2006 and 2010, when the first Grand Prix of the year took place in Bahrain. The 2020 and 2021 races were cancelled due to the Covid pandemic, before Melbourne returned to the championship last year as round three, after the two opening races in the Middle East.
It’s a true home race for Oscar Piastri. The young McLaren driver was born in Melbourne, not far from Albert Park. Other Australian drivers to go before him in Formula 1 include Jack Brabham, Alan Jones, Tim Schenken, Mark Webber, and Daniel Ricciardo.
Comments
No posts