#F1 @Rolex #AustralianGP 2024 Preview. #Formula1 #AusGP #F1DownUnder
Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2024 Race Start Image. Albert Park Street Circuit, Melbourne, Australia. Image credit to Gongora/NurPhoto/Getty Images. 2024 Australian GP Preview, 2024 Aus GP Preview, F1 Australian GP Preview, 2024 Formula 1 Australian GP Preview.
2024 Australian GP Preview – After Max Verstappen lead from team-mate Sergio Perez to take a dominant victory at the Saudi Arabian GP to give Red Bull another one-two finish, round three of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship returns to the great city of Melbourne on the streets of Albert Park for the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2024. This is the 27th year that Melbourne has hosted the Australian Grand Prix and the 38th time the Australian GP has been part of the Formula One calendar. The event also sees feeder series the FIA Formula 2 and 3 World Championships hit the Albert Park Street Circuit for the second time.
2024 Australian GP Preview – A look at the Albert Park Street Circuit
The Albert Park circuit with its spectacular backdrop is a temporary street circuit around Albert Park Lake, only a few kilometres south from central Melbourne. Despite the track being run on public roads, it has characteristics of a permanent racing circuit considering its fast, flowing nature combined with extensive runoff in many corners.
The circuit itself uses everyday sections of road that circle Albert Park Lake, a small, altered lake (originally a lagoon formed as part of the ancient Yarra River course) just south of the city of Melbourne. The road sections that are used were rebuilt prior to the first event in 1996 to ensure its consistency and smoothness. As a result, compared to other circuits that are held on public roads, the Albert Park street circuit has quite a smooth surface.
The track is considered to be fast and easy to drive; drivers have commented that the consistent placement of corners allows them to learn the circuit very quickly and achieve competitive times.
Each year, most of the motorsport infrastructure, trackside fencing, pedestrian overpasses, and grandstands are built approximately two months prior to the race weekend and removed within six weeks after the event. Land around the circuit (includes a large aquatic centre, a golf course, Lakeside Stadium, some restaurants and rowing boathouses) has restricted access during the event weekend.
The Albert Park Circuit had undergone changes in the months before the return of the Grand Prix in 2022, which were touted as the most major changes since the inaugural 1996 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Several drivers were consulted on the changes to the layout.
Corners 9 and 10 were completely revised, where they used to form a right–left chicane with a heavy braking zone on the approach to it. Now the redesign saw it become a much quicker right–left sequence. This change was made to raise the approaching speeds for turns 11 and 12. Several other corners were modified to encourage overtaking, the most notable being turn 13, which has been widened to create more racing lines. Positive camber was also added to the corner to allow the drivers to carry more speed through the corner. The Walker Straight and pit-lane were also redesigned, with the pit-lane wall moved two metres closer to the track so the edge of the circuit sits directly next to the wall.
The pit-lane modification was made in response to Daniel Ricciardo’s opening-lap accident in 2019, where the Australian ran wide at the start, running onto the grassy verge and hitting an unsighted culvert, which destroyed the front wing and the undertray of his Renault R.S.19 racer, forcing him to retire from his home race. As a result of the changes, Australian Grand Prix officials applied to sport’s governing body, the FIA to raise the pit-lane speed limit from 60 kph (37.28 mph) to 80 kph (49.71 mph).
A change such as this one would be significant, as the Formula One pits sit next to the Supercars support race paddock, creating one of the longest pit-lanes on the F1 calendar. These changes were originally planned to be made after the race. However, the cancellations allowed Australian GP organisers to make the changes in advance. Further changes, such as the track being resurfaced with a tarmac compound designed to wear tyres out quicker, were planned to take place after the race in time for the 2022 event.
The circuit runs in a clockwise direction and is 5.278km (3.280 miles) in length with 14 corners.
The race distance is 306.124km (190.216 miles) in length with 58 laps in total.
Sergio Perez holds the fastest lap record on the streets of Albert Park set last year with 1:20.235 in his Oracle Red Bull Racing – Honda-RBPT RB19 racer.
Michael Schumacher and Lex Davison are tied for most Australian Grand Prix victories with four apiece.
Ferrari is the most successful Constructor at the Australian Grand Prix, with 13 victories.
2024 Australian GP Preview – Onboard Pole Lap of the Albert Park Street Circuit
Here is the onboard pole lap of the Albert Park Street Circuit set at last year’s event by defending Australian Grand Prix winner Max Verstappen in his Oracle Red Bull Racing, Honda-RBPT, RB19 racer, with the Dutchman posting a blistering 1:16.732. You can watch the video right here at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NfsXFY_V2o
2024 Australian GP Preview – The Last Five Winners
2023: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2022: Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari. 2021-20: Not Held. 2019: Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1. 2018: Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Ferrari. 2017: Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Ferrari.
2024 Australian GP Preview – Tyres
Pirelli will be bringing with them to Albert Park, the C3 (White) Hard compound, the C4 (Yellow) Medium tyre and C5 (Red) Soft compounds along with the green-branded Intermediates and Blue side-walled Full Wets in-case of rain.
Drivers will have eight sets of the softs, three sets of the mediums and two of the hards.
2024 Australian GP Preview – DRS Zones
There will be four DRS Zones for the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2024 weekend. The first detection point is 45 metres after turn six with the first activation zone 140 metres after Panel 11, the second activation point is 100 metres after turn ten. The second detection zone is 90 metres before turn 13 with the third activation point 30 metres after turn 13. The final DRS zone is 30 metres after the second corner.
2024 Australian GP Preview – Pitlane Speeds
Pitlane speeds will be 80km/h in all Practice sessions, Qualifying and the Race.
ICYMI – Verstappen takes dominant Saudi Arabian GP victory
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen lead from team-mate Sergio Perez to claim a dominant victory at the Saudi Arabian GP in a Red Bull one-two as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc came home third and taking the fastest lap bonus point.
This was the ninth victory in a row for Verstappen and the 57th of his career.
When the 50-lap Saudi Arabian GP began, polesitter Verstappen and covered Leclerc into the opening corner whilst Perez jumped the Ferrari into turn one to take second.
In the following corner, Leclerc re-took second place from Perez.
Behind the leaders, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was called to retire early after a gearbox issue.
At the end of the opening tour, Verstappen held a one second lead over Leclerc, with Perez holding third, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri third, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso overtaking the other McLaren of Lando Norris on the inside before reaching turn one to grab fifth place.
At the beginning of lap four with DRS assistance on the main straight, Perez reclaimed second place from Leclerc passing the Ferrari from the inside into turn one.
Lap five saw Verstappen’s lead up to 2.498 seconds over team-mate Perez with Leclerc third, Piastri fourth and Alonso rounding out the top five runners.
On lap six, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll tapped the wall with his front-left tyre damaging his suspension and crashed into the turn one barrier with his front wing falling onto the exit of turn two with yellow flags brought out.
Then a tour later, the safety car was deployed to clear Stroll’s AMR24 and to clear the debris.
Lap eight saw Norris remain out on track whilst race leader Verstappen pitted and emerged in second, Hamilton moves up into third opting not to pit, with Perez fourth, Leclerc fifth, Piastri sixth, Alonso seventh, Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg eighth, Mercedes’ George Russell ninth as the other Haas VF-24 of Kevin Magnussen rounded out the top ten.
When the race restarted on lap 10, Norris covered the RB20’s of Verstappen and Perez into the opening corner whilst behind them Leclerc kept Piastri at bay to hold fifth place.
On the 12th tour, Verstappen was in DRS range of the yet-to-pit race leader Norris, with Hamilton third, Perez fourth as Leclerc completed the top five.
Race control noted an unsafe release for Perez during the safety car pit-stop phase whilst Norris is also under investigation for jumping the start.
The following lap saw Verstappen with DRS assistance on the main-straight make a lunge up the inside of Norris into turn one to reclaim first place.
A tour later, Russell made his way past Hulkenberg to take eighth place performing the same move as Verstappen into turn one meanwhile Ferrari’s Oliver Bearman jumped up into tenth place overtaking Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu doing likewise.
Lap 15 saw with DRS assistance in the battle for fourth place Leclerc with DRS assistance go around the outside of Hamilton into turn one and squeezed passes the Briton on the exit of turn two move up a place.
A lap later, third-placed Perez was given a five-second time penalty for his unsafe pit release whilst Haas’s Magnussen was given a 10-second time penalty for his collision with Williams’ Alexander Albon.
On lap 17, Verstappen’s gap to second-place Norris was up to 4.110 seconds with Perez close behind the McLaren in third, Leclerc holding fourth as Hamilton held Piastri at bay in the fight for fifth spot with the latter having to give the place back after running through the turns one and two corners.
In the battle for second on the 18th lap with DRS assistance Perez passed the yet-to-pit McLaren of Norris on the main-straight before reaching turn one to make it a Red Bull one-two.
Leclerc was next to chase down Norris whilst Hamilton was still clinging onto fifth place ahead of Piastri with Alonso and Russell not too far behind.
A tour later, Bearman was in the fight for ninth-place with the yet-to-pit Hulkenberg. The former got passed the German at turn 27, but Hulkenberg got the place back with DRS assistance into turn one.
Then the following lap with DRS assistance on the main-straight Bearman overtook Hulkenberg to make the move stick to snatch ninth place.
On lap 22, Magnussen was hit with another 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in the battle for 12th place with RB’s Yuki Tsunoda.
Lap 24 in the fight for fifth, Piastri was ever closer with DRS range to Hamilton, but once again the latter covered the MCL38 entry into turn one.
At the halfway race distance, Verstappen’s lead over team-mate Perez was up to 6.640 seconds with Norris third, Leclerc closely behind the McLaren in fourth and the two battling Mercedes of Hamilton and the second McLaren of Piastri in fifth and sixth places respectively.
On lap 27, Leclerc with DRS assistance on the pit-straight made a lunge and breezed up the inside to overtake the yet-to-pit Norris to climb back into third place.
On the next tour, Magnussen was intensifying the battle of the midfield in 12th place with a massive train behind him with Tsunoda, the sole Alpine of Esteban Ocon and the two Williams FW46 entries of Alexander Albon behind them.
Lap 29 saw Tsunoda move up into 12th, but Magnussen got his elbows out and covered the Japanese driver to hold the place.
The race order on lap 30 saw Verstappen’s lead increase to 7.5 seconds over Red Bull team-mate Perez with Leclerc third, the two yet-to-pit Norris and Hamilton in fourth and fifth respectively as Piastri rounded out the top six runners.
The battle for 12th place continued to heat up a tour later, as Magnussen had been trying to slow the field down. Tsunoda wanted none of that, so he made a move, but overcooked it and runs off – letting not just Magnussen back through, but Ocon as well with Tsunoda yelling “What dangerous driving,” with frustration over the radio.
A tour later, Magnussen’s race engineer told the Dane to “keep at it”.
On lap 33, Albon with DRS assistance breezed his way past Tsunoda to take 14th in the midfield train with Magnussen holding up that pack of cars.
Meanwhile on lap 34, Hulkenberg pitted for his fresh set of hards and emerged in 11th place two seconds in-front of team-mate Magnussen.
With 15 tours remaining, Verstappen’s lead was up to 8.202 seconds over Perez with Leclerc a distant third, Norris fourth as behind them Piastri with DRS made his way ahead of Hamilton into turn one but ran too hot and went into the run-off area once again and Hamilton re-took fifth place.
On lap 37, Hamilton made his pit-stop from fifth place for a fresh set of softs and emerged in ninth place behind Bearman.
Meanwhile on lap 38, McLaren pitted Norris from fourth to cover Hamilton and the Briton was also given a set of softs to come out in-front of his fellow British-compatriot in eighth place.
A tour later, Hamilton got the fastest lap of the Grand Prix with a 1:31.746 and was weaving behind the McLaren of Norris in the battle for eighth.
With ten laps remaining, Verstappen’s lead was at 8.582 seconds over Perez with Leclerc third, Piastri fourth and Alonso completing the top five.
On lap 41, the race stewards noted Norris for weaving down the main-straight in his battle with Hamilton and the former was given a black and white flag for doing so.
On lap 43, Zhou finally pitted and suffered a slow stop on his front-right tyre, which put Hulkenberg back into the points as the former emerged in 18th place behind Sauber team-mate Bottas.
In the battle for seventh on lap 45, Bearman was sounding worried with a rapid McLaren and Mercedes of Norris and Hamilton pushing to catch the Ferrari, but the former’s race engineer assured him that he could potentially hold on.
The gap was 2.251 seconds between Bearman and Norris on lap 48, the former looked likely to hold onto seventh-place in his first Grand Prix as a replacement until Sainz before he returns for the Australian Grand Prix.
Verstappen crossed the line take the Saudi Arabian GP by 13.643 seconds over Perez who was hit with his five-second time penalty added onto his race-finish time with Leclerc holding the final podium place and the fastest lap bonus point.
McLaren’s Piastri came home fourth and in-front of Aston Martin’s Alonso who was fifth, Mercedes’ Russell who took sixth.
Bearman took a brilliant seventh place in his debut weekend for Ferrari as a last-minute substitute for the ill Carlos Sainz and in-front of Norris who finished eighth, Hamilton who ended the Grand Prix ninth as Hulkenberg rounded out the final points place.
Williams’ Albon finished outside the top ten in 11th place and ahead of Haas’s Magnussen who took 12th and Alpine’s Ocon who came 13th in the classification.
The two RB’s of Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo ended the race in 14th and 16th respectively as Williams’ Sargeant split the duo in 15th.
The two Kick Sauber’s of Bottas and Zhou brought up the rear.
2024 Australian GP Preview – The Situation
The Formula One circus heads to the streets of Albert Park in Melbourne, Victoria for this weekend’s Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2024.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen dominated the opening two rounds as he lead team-mate Sergio Perez in a one-two finish in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
However, the Dutchman did not have it all his own way at last year’s Australian Grand Prix as a chaotic end to the race saw three red flags and multiple incidents as Verstappen remained unscathed with Mercedes’ Sir Lewis Hamilton taking second and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso third.
The Australian GP is one of the most popular races on the Formula One calendar and attracts over 400,000 people over the week in Melbourne.
After no Grand Prix for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race returned in 2022 with a revised circuit layout to promote overtaking.
The last two Grands Prix have seen plenty of wheel-to-wheel battles and we should see more of the same this year, where rain may potentially play a role.
Both Aussies Oscar Piastri (McLaren F1 Team) and Daniel Ricciardo (Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula 1 Team) will be hoping to give their home fans something to cheer about this weekend.
Reigning world champion Verstappen heads to Melbourne on top of the World Driver’s Championship with 51 points and a 15-point lead over Red Bull team-mate Perez who is second on 36 points while Charles Leclerc is a further 23 behind the Dutchman in third place on 28 points.
Oracle Red Bull Racing returns to Albert Park sitting on top of the World Constructors Championship with 87 points and a 38-point advantage over nearest rivals Scuderia Ferrari who are second on 49 points whilst McLaren Formula One Team are third and a further 59 points off the Milton Keynes based-outfit and on 28 points.
Who will come out on top this weekend?
Click here for the 2024 Formula 1 World Driver’s (Top 10) and Constructors Championship Standings
The Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2024 weekend begins Friday March 22 with Free Practice One and Two, followed by Free Practice Three and Qualifying Saturday March 23 and concluding with the 58 lap Race Sunday March 24.
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