It is time. A new
season, an evolved grid of cars, and the first track preview of the season. Formula 1 is in Melbourne , Australia
this weekend, starting with first and second practice (likely already completed
by the time you read this) Friday, third practice and qualifying Saturday, and
the race Sunday.
Albert Park is one of the semi permanent circuits in a park
on the calendar, situated around a lake in a park it shares a similar look to
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The
similarities don't end there, the track is made up of many straights leading
into second and third gear right-left corners with chicanes spattered
throughout, and a few high speed curved "straights" for good measure.
Drivers begin on the short start-finish straight with speeds
climbing to 190mph before braking into the first complex of corners. Drivers approach the first two corners, a tight
third gear right hander into a fourth gear left hander opening into a short,
flowing straight. Expect an incident
when the flag drops Sunday. The entry
into turn 1 is usually the best spot for overtaking, but since both of these
straights will compromise the DRS zone for Sundays Grand Prix the entry into
turn 3 could see some overtaking maneuvers.
Cars reach fifth gear before a very sharp second gear right
leading into a mellower third gear left.
Turn 5 is a right hander and gradual enough to be taken in sixth gear,
leading into another top gear straight and tight third gear right.
Turn 6 and 7 are remarkably similar to the first two
corners, third gear right into a gradual fourth gear left, through sixth gear
turn 8 before yet another seventh gear straight into third gear right and
fourth gear left, turns 9 and 10.
A sweeping "straight" to the left creeps close to
the water before the exciting turns 11 and 12, tight sixth and fifth gear
corners that are almost a larger version of Monaco's swimming pool complex,
where drivers toeing the limit will show off some oppositelock (most noticeable
in the wet).
Another "straight" doglegs and then the final corners, third gear
right through 13, short sprint up to fifth gear held through right-hander
14. The pit entry is after the extra
tight second gear turn 15 and the final corner, 16, is very gradual left that
calls for patience before hammering onto the gas and mashing the DRS to
complete a lap at Albert Park.
The ends of the long straights met with sharp rights have
sand traps very close to the tarmac punishing drivers testing the limits of the
braking zones. The tight and unrelenting
layout of the circuit, high speed into tight corners, makes overtaking rather
difficult. Thankfully, as the first race
of the season, teams are still figuring out the new tires and drivers their
cars. Even though the 2013 racers are
more evolutionary than brand new, the new rubber with its larger working window
but quicker wear rate should mix up the grid plenty from green flag to checker.
Excitement is in the air, team by team breakdown and
predictions to come shortly, stay tuned!
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