The F1 paddock heads to Australia full of the usual excitement for the season ahead. There is always a level of uncertainty but this year it is even more intense due to the seismic changes to the Sporting and Technical Regulations.
Winter testing has come to a close and now the first race of the year is just around the corner. The Albert Park Circuit is a popular venue and is situated right in the hustle and bustle of Melbourne, surrounded by stunning parkland and the city skyline.
It is almost like a fresh start for Formula 1 this year. There are so many changes and the grid looks very different as well: plenty for us all to get used to. There is a real buzz surrounding the sport right now. You can see my overall 2014 season preview here.
The 12 test sessions have shown us who is reliable, but not who is fast. It is very difficult to predict who will stand on the top step of the podium on Sunday, although I believe it will be a Mercedes-powered car. Ferrari looks to be in the mix but those running Renault power-units suffered a difficult pre-season, meaning they could be at the back of the grid and failing to finish in the race.
Many expect half of the field or more to retire at the first round of the new season, and I’m one of them. With so much new technology and such a short amount of time to solve any problems before the Australian Grand Prix, it could give teams like Caterham and Marussia a chance to finally score points.
The layout of the Albert Park Circuit is relatively straight-forward. It features a mix of medium speed chicanes, high speed kinks and short straights and has one of the lowest turn-angles of the year. It is also surrounded by unforgiving barriers and the weather can often cause chaos – with last year’s qualifying session being a prime example.
The temporary 3.295-mile track is constructed between January and March. It takes 290,000 man hours to build and as it takes place on public roads, grip levels are usually very low at the beginning of a race weekend. However, unlike notoriously bumpy street tracks, it has a very smooth surface and isn’t particularly demanding on the tyres.
The lap kicks off on the medium-length pit straight with the pit lane and exit to the right - this is where the first DRS zone will be positioned. The first corner (named after Alan Jones) is one of the tightest on the track and often causes first lap accidents – most recently in 2010 and 2012. The right-hander used to be taken in third gear but with the new V6 Turbo power-units and 8-speed semi-automatic gearboxes will change that.
Turn two is a flat-out left that leads on to a long straight. A second DRS zone will be positioned here. Getting the first turn right is crucial to carry speed through the second corner, onto the straight and under the trees. The third bend is a slow right-hand hairpin that, in 2013, was usually taken in second gear. This is one of the best overtaking opportunities on the circuit due to the heavy braking zone.
Turn four is a mid-speed left before a flat-out right that leads on to a short and curving straight, which is where the first sector ends. The sixth and seventh corners make up a right-left chicane that is followed by a fast and gentle kink.
A short straight follows before another right-left chicane, which makes up the ninth and 10th turns on the mid-city track. A good exit from this tricky section is important for the long and curving straight that follows. This is where the second sector ends.
The 11th and 12th corners are arguably the most difficult, as they make up a high-speed left-right chicane that is particularly challenging in the wet. There is a little room for error on the exit with a large and flat kerb, but if a driver strays onto the grass it is easy to lose control of the car on the bumps (as seen in 2008 with Timo Glock).
Another long and curving straight follows before the heavy braking zone for the 13th turn. It is a 90 degree bend and is another overtaking opportunity, although the final sector is rather narrow.
Turn 14 is a mid-speed right before the turn 15 hairpin, a left-hander that used to be taken in second gear. Just prior to this section will be the detection point for the first DRS zone. The final corner is a long and tricky right that leads back on to the pit straight, with the pit entry on the inside.
Due to the smooth track surface, Pirelli has allocated the medium prime tyre and soft option tyre for the race. The track demands a very responsive car thanks to its many chicanes, but it also requires one that can ride the kerbs and has good stability under braking.
Due to the lack of straights and need for ultimate top speed, downforce levels are generally quite high. The higher torque of the new engines could produce some excitement due to the stop/start nature of the circuit. It is very difficult to get the power down out of slower corners and this will cause some slides and corrections, particularly if there is a wet track surface. The likelihood of a safety car is quite high so it should make for a thrilling first race of the year.
Last year, Kimi Raikkonen won the 2013 season opener after beating Fernando Alonso on a two-stop strategy. Eventual champion Sebastian Vettel finished in third, ahead of Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton – on his debut for Mercedes.
The circuit has been the location of many memorable and dramatic moments including Martin Brundle’s turn three crash in 1996, Mika Hakkinen’s controversial 1998 win, the chaotic first corner crash in 2002 and Jenson Button’s final corner engine failure in 2006 to name just a few. The Brit is a three-time winner of the Australian Grand Prix and got his championship year off to a fairy-tale start in 2009 by winning on Brawn GP's debut.
Could we see something similar, a midfield team making an unexpected move to the front with a shake-up of the competitive order, in 2014? I certainly hope so and can't wait for the season to get underway.
Australian Grand Prix Fact-file:
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Track Length: 3.295 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 16 Laps: 58
First race: 1985 (Albert Part track 1996)
Lap record: Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004: 1m24.125
Tyre compounds: Medium and soft
2013 race winner: Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus F1 Team
2013 pole position: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, 1m27.407
2013 fastest lap: Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus F1 Team, 1m29.274
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights on BBC One)
 |
| © Red Bull/Getty Images |
It is almost like a fresh start for Formula 1 this year. There are so many changes and the grid looks very different as well: plenty for us all to get used to. There is a real buzz surrounding the sport right now. You can see my overall 2014 season preview here.
The 12 test sessions have shown us who is reliable, but not who is fast. It is very difficult to predict who will stand on the top step of the podium on Sunday, although I believe it will be a Mercedes-powered car. Ferrari looks to be in the mix but those running Renault power-units suffered a difficult pre-season, meaning they could be at the back of the grid and failing to finish in the race.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
Many expect half of the field or more to retire at the first round of the new season, and I’m one of them. With so much new technology and such a short amount of time to solve any problems before the Australian Grand Prix, it could give teams like Caterham and Marussia a chance to finally score points.
The layout of the Albert Park Circuit is relatively straight-forward. It features a mix of medium speed chicanes, high speed kinks and short straights and has one of the lowest turn-angles of the year. It is also surrounded by unforgiving barriers and the weather can often cause chaos – with last year’s qualifying session being a prime example.
The temporary 3.295-mile track is constructed between January and March. It takes 290,000 man hours to build and as it takes place on public roads, grip levels are usually very low at the beginning of a race weekend. However, unlike notoriously bumpy street tracks, it has a very smooth surface and isn’t particularly demanding on the tyres.
The lap kicks off on the medium-length pit straight with the pit lane and exit to the right - this is where the first DRS zone will be positioned. The first corner (named after Alan Jones) is one of the tightest on the track and often causes first lap accidents – most recently in 2010 and 2012. The right-hander used to be taken in third gear but with the new V6 Turbo power-units and 8-speed semi-automatic gearboxes will change that.
Turn two is a flat-out left that leads on to a long straight. A second DRS zone will be positioned here. Getting the first turn right is crucial to carry speed through the second corner, onto the straight and under the trees. The third bend is a slow right-hand hairpin that, in 2013, was usually taken in second gear. This is one of the best overtaking opportunities on the circuit due to the heavy braking zone.
 |
| © Red Bull/Getty Images |
Turn four is a mid-speed left before a flat-out right that leads on to a short and curving straight, which is where the first sector ends. The sixth and seventh corners make up a right-left chicane that is followed by a fast and gentle kink.
A short straight follows before another right-left chicane, which makes up the ninth and 10th turns on the mid-city track. A good exit from this tricky section is important for the long and curving straight that follows. This is where the second sector ends.
The 11th and 12th corners are arguably the most difficult, as they make up a high-speed left-right chicane that is particularly challenging in the wet. There is a little room for error on the exit with a large and flat kerb, but if a driver strays onto the grass it is easy to lose control of the car on the bumps (as seen in 2008 with Timo Glock).
Another long and curving straight follows before the heavy braking zone for the 13th turn. It is a 90 degree bend and is another overtaking opportunity, although the final sector is rather narrow.
Turn 14 is a mid-speed right before the turn 15 hairpin, a left-hander that used to be taken in second gear. Just prior to this section will be the detection point for the first DRS zone. The final corner is a long and tricky right that leads back on to the pit straight, with the pit entry on the inside.
Due to the smooth track surface, Pirelli has allocated the medium prime tyre and soft option tyre for the race. The track demands a very responsive car thanks to its many chicanes, but it also requires one that can ride the kerbs and has good stability under braking.
 |
| © Caterham F1 Team |
Due to the lack of straights and need for ultimate top speed, downforce levels are generally quite high. The higher torque of the new engines could produce some excitement due to the stop/start nature of the circuit. It is very difficult to get the power down out of slower corners and this will cause some slides and corrections, particularly if there is a wet track surface. The likelihood of a safety car is quite high so it should make for a thrilling first race of the year.
Last year, Kimi Raikkonen won the 2013 season opener after beating Fernando Alonso on a two-stop strategy. Eventual champion Sebastian Vettel finished in third, ahead of Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton – on his debut for Mercedes.
The circuit has been the location of many memorable and dramatic moments including Martin Brundle’s turn three crash in 1996, Mika Hakkinen’s controversial 1998 win, the chaotic first corner crash in 2002 and Jenson Button’s final corner engine failure in 2006 to name just a few. The Brit is a three-time winner of the Australian Grand Prix and got his championship year off to a fairy-tale start in 2009 by winning on Brawn GP's debut.
Could we see something similar, a midfield team making an unexpected move to the front with a shake-up of the competitive order, in 2014? I certainly hope so and can't wait for the season to get underway.
 |
| © AllF1 |
Australian Grand Prix Fact-file:
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Track Length: 3.295 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 16 Laps: 58
First race: 1985 (Albert Part track 1996)
Lap record: Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004: 1m24.125
Tyre compounds: Medium and soft
2013 race winner: Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus F1 Team
2013 pole position: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, 1m27.407
2013 fastest lap: Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus F1 Team, 1m29.274
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights on BBC One)
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