F1 is back! It feels good to talk about it again, although the early morning starts are not fun! This weekend showed no disappointments, as in this post, we will be diving into an impactful, highly anticipated Australian Grand Prix. Set in Albert Park, the Australian Grand Prix consists of 57 laps partially run on public roads. It has the shortest pit lane on the calendar at just 281 metres, and a lap will see a driver make just 35 gear changes. This will be the 23rd time that Albert Park has hosted the opening Grand Prix of an F1 season but the first time since the 2019 season. This race not only marks the start of the F1 season in Melbourne but also sets the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating championship battle. With a mixture of seasoned veterans and eager rookies, I think it’s safe to say that judging from this weekend, we are set for an interesting season. Join me as I break down the race highlights, standout performances, and the implications for the season ahead.
As the race weekend unfolded in Melbourne, many of us were sat at home, ready to cheer our favourites on throughout the weekend like clapping seals. The practice sessions provided a crucial opportunity for drivers to fine-tune their setups on the unique street circuit, with many looking to find the perfect balance between speed and control, and maybe for some in practice, less control… Bearman, I’m looking at you. Qualifying saw some nail-biting moments, with top contenders battling for pole position. In a surprising twist, a few unexpected names made it into the top spots, shaking up the grid and setting the stage for a thrilling race day, not to mention unpredictable varying weather conditions which made watching even more captivating. It was great to see both Albon and Sainz qualifying in the top 10 for Williams, finally giving the reputation for Williams that they truly deserve, not to mention an additional 6 other teams in the mix up, rather than seeing the same dominating teams in Q3 all the time.
The Melbourne Grand Prix delivered an action-packed race that kept me, and I’m sure many fans on the edge of our seats from start to finish. The formation lap kicked off to a dramatic start with Isack Hadjar despite a rather strong qualifying, lost the rear end of his car crashing at turn 2, causing his rear wing to be dislodged After a 15minute delay the race then well sort of started however Doohan after a few corners on lap 1 sends his Alpine sideways into the barriers, his rear wing becoming totally detached, putting him out of the race and bringing out a safety car. It didn’t stop there. Again, before even finishing lap 1, we have yet another driver out of the race, and that is with sadness, not so smooth operator Sainz. A spin at the final corner under safety car conditions leaves him having to also retire. We then got a breather for the next 31 laps where McLaren was clearly dominating the race with Max following on more than 10 seconds behind. (I hope you know how painful that is to type!) Lap 33 brings more drama though as Alonso is the 4th driver to retire from the race. Similar to the others, after putting the power down on exit of the corner left him dipping his tyres onto a wet kirb and sending him into the wall. This then brought out another safety car allowing most of the field to pit for slick tyres, and the drama still doesn’t end.
With the rain intensifying, lap 44, both McLarens got caught out. Lando first runs wide and into the gravel, while teammate Piastri also goes wider and deeper. Although Lando was able to recover and keep his lead, Piastri spins onto the grass run-off. Meanwhile, Lando switches to intermediate tyres, which hands the lead over to Max briefly. What looked like a race that was over for Piastri takes a turn of events when he manages to engage reverse. However, this drops him to the back of the field. Ferrari are back with their new antics on “how many unique ways can we lose a race.” They advised both Lewis and Leclerc that the rain would not be too intense, and therefore, they will stay out on dry tyres. Well.. the rain was far too heavy, and obviously, they had to pit, which led them both dropping down the grid. The last incident came with just 10 laps to go where Lawson became the next victim of the slippery conditions with Bortoleto following. Another few laps, and I think Max would have had Norris, but I’m happy he got 2nd place. Lando obviously won, and George placed third.
There were a few standout performances and ones worth mentioning. Kimi Antonelli had a brilliant race, achieving the best results out of the rookies, and achieved an impressive 4th place finish from starting way back in 17th. This will be a massive boost of confidence for both him and the Mercedes team. We also have a great result for Williams as well, with Albon finishing in the top 5. It’s no secret that I haven’t rated Albon in previous seasons. However, maybe Sainz joining the team has given Albon the push he needs. Albon exceeded expectations and showed determination positioning himself ahead of top competitors like the likes of Ferrari and finishing in a very impressive 5th place. Lastly, we shouldn’t forget Hulkenberg. It wasn’t looking too great in the first half of the race however Hulkenberg managed to in just once race score more points than was Sauber had achieved in the whole season last year, by finishing in 7th place. That has surely got to be some motivation for the team!
Toto team principal of Mercedes as since said that they leave Australia with many positives as well as a “healthy dose of realism” in regards to where they stand in the pecking order. He also said, “It’s clear we have taken a good step forward over the winter. Our focus is now on unlocking more potential and adding performance. We are excited for that challenge.” It is only the first race. However, I feel maybe he is being a bit harsh on himself, and the team as a 3rd and 4th place finish is still a fantastic result. Someone who wasn’t as positive was Helmut Marko, who was a bit overcritical, in my opinion, calling an emotional Hadjar “a bit embarrassing.” We have seen many emotional drivers over the years, and I imagine when Hadjar was meant to be making his debut, he probably feels frustrated, upset, and even embarrassed. I don’t think Helmut’s comments were really needed, and what input did that add? Thankfully, he had Lewis’s father to give him a few words of encouragement, I respect that.
Overall, it was a good start to the season and packed full of action. Personally, I don’t feel that McLaren is just going to run away with the championship, and I think Max will still be a contender in the championship as well as a few others. I think we can also throw Mercedes in the mix too. It’s early days, but the team I can possibly see finishing last in the constructures championship is Haas or maybe Sauber, as I don’t think they can rely on Hulkenberg alone. I am quite undecided about how Ferrari will perform, but again it’s only just been the first race and it’s hard to get a full picture for a few of these teams just on the fact that just over half of them were down to relying on one driver to perform. Next up we have China where there will also be a sprint which I have mixed opinions about as it feels like you watching the same race twice however with there being quite a few new drivers, who knows what could happen. I hope things remain interesting and we see a competitive season!
Who are you routing for this season?
Amy x
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