McLaren driver Alonso will miss the first race because of concussion
The waiting is over, the testing is finished, Formula 1 is finally back this weekend when it’s lights out for the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne!
Track: Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
Number of Laps: 58
Circuit Length: 3.3 miles (5.3km)
Race Length: 191.1 miles (307.6km)
Start Time: 5:00 GMT
Fastest Lap: 1:23.529 (Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing Renault, 2011)
Fastest Race Lap: 1:24.125 (Michael Schumacher, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, 2004)
2014 Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG Petronas, 1:44.231, Wet Tyres
2014 Race Winner: Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG Petronas
Tyre Compounds: Soft, Medium, Intermediate, Wet
First F1 Grand Prix: 1985 (Country), 1996 (Track)
Most Wins: Michael Schumacher, 4
Race Preview:
The Australian Grand Prix celebrates two anniversaries this year – 30 years since Keke Rosberg won the first ever F1 race down under at the challenging season finale in Adelaide, as well as 20 races at the now traditional opener in Melbourne.
The Albert Park track has played host to some amazing season openers since it joined the calendar in 1996 – the race which saw Martin Brundle somersault his Jordan at the notorious turn 3 as well as Villeneuve finish second in his first Grand Prix – a feat repeated by Magnussen last year.
The Dane will be hoping to repeat the feat, with the 22 year old keen to make an impression whilst he deputises for the injured Fernando Alonso at the track where he scored what is his only podium to date. It does not look likely though, the McLaren MP4-30’s brand new Honda power unit was plagued by unreliability in testing.
That was not a problem for Mercedes, who once again look to have a massive advantage over the field. Nico Rosberg would love to start the season with a win, last season’s runner up did so last year following Lewis Hamilton’s retirement in the early stages of the Grand Prix.
There is lots to look out for and many questions to be answered – how big is Mercedes’ advantage? How well will Vettel perform at Ferrari? Is Verstappen ready for F1?
The wait is almost over, Formula 1 is back.
Images courtesy of McLaren Honda
