[Scarlet_Rider]

The F1 circus is down under this weekend in the land of the kangaroo!

One of the rare race weekends where your Sunday evening will be free for other activities.

Qualifying: 1st April 2023 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM IST.

Race: 2nd April 2023 at 10:30 AM IST.











Details of the track from Formula1.com

When was the track built?
The deal to host Formula 1 in Melbourne was done in 1993, with the decision taken to create a circuit using a mixture of the existing roads around the city’s Albert Park – mainly Aughtie Drive and Lakeside Drive if you fancy driving it yourself – with a little detour through the Lakeside Stadium’s car park.

When was its first Grand Prix?
Just four months after Adelaide held its last Australian Grand Prix at the end of 1995, the Formula 1 teams were back in Australia for Melbourne's first Grand Prix at the start of 1996. That race is most often remembered for Martin Brundle’s infamous Jordan crash at Turn 3 after he launched himself off the back of Johnny Herbert’s Sauber.

What’s the circuit like?
As a temporary facility, Albert Park can be quite bumpy - though resurfacing for 2022 will no doubt improve matters - while the circuit at the start of the weekend is often slippery, rubbering in as the sessions progress. It’s also a circuit that requires a well-sorted chassis, with several spots on the track where the drivers require a reactive front end to allow them to chuck it into a corner. Melbourne is also one of the faster tracks on the calendar, with Lewis Hamilton’s 2019 pole lap set at an average of over 235km/h.

Why go?
Often found on lists of the world’s best cities, Melbourne is a blast all year round – and it only gets better when Formula 1 rolls into town. There are bars and restaurants aplenty, you’re right by the beach, while the race’s appearance at the start of Australia’s autumn means the temperatures should be peachy.

Where is the best place to watch?
If you want to get in a grandstand, opt for either the Waite stand overlooking Turn 10, or the Brabham Grandstand on the outside of Turn 2 to watch cars jostling for position through the first chicane. Alternatively, there are some nice general admission spots on the far side of the lake – go for either between Turns 8-9 or 9-10 if you fancy some F1 picnic feels.

Sources:
https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2...a/Circuit.html
https://www.fia.com/news/f1-2023-aus...d-prix-preview

[ValarMorghulis]

Hoping for an upset this weekend with either an Alonso or Leclerc win.
Enough of this monotonous RB cavalcade at the top.

Or may be a tussle between Perez and Max, where Perez takes out Max

[ds.raikkonen]

ALO almost 5 tenths ahead of LEC and 6 tenths clear of VER in FP2, let the hype train build momentum!

Though I am expecting a different story when it comes to quali, VER and LEC will be on top, though ALO might split them (really hope so).

[Scarlet_Rider]

Look who's back in the paddock this weekend!

https://www.grandprix247.com/2023/03...t-talk-to-him/

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/102321...ilton-s-legacy

[AtheK]

Absolutely crazy race going on, probably a fourth start upcoming after three red flags.

FIA Has totally lost the plot, should have probably did a rolling start, everyone would have gone aggressive was a given in a standing start.

[bmw_lover]

Race control announcing after third red flag: race start under investigation.

Commentator: what are they investigating? Themselves?

That about sums it up for me!!

[AtheK]

Originally Posted by bmw_lover

Race control announcing after third red flag: race start under investigation.

Commentator: what are they investigating? Themselves?

That about sums it up for me!!

They were in form today!

Max behind safety car for final lap, commentator goes for max - “Weaving to generate tire temperature that he does not need.”

[Sierra__foxtrot]

At this point the FIA has decided that F1 as a spectacle >>>> F1 as a sport.The Magnussen incident was an unnecessary red flag which cost both alpines a points finish. Coming to the Sainz drama, if the lap was not counted then why should he be penalised after the starting order has been brought back. The Merc was on fire today but so was it last year and once it went to Baku it should its true colours, so Merc is very track specific.

[Rocky_Balboa]

I cant recall the last time a race had three red-flags, plus one during the cool-down lap!!

[harry10]

Controversy aside this was a thoroughly entertaining and exciting race to watch. I actually can't recall if I have seen 3 red flags in a single race.

[chandrda]

Not sure why FIA had to red-flag after Magnussen incident. If these modern F1 driver can't drive around some debris, then they better not drive at all. Its very important to give priority for safety, but this is motor sports and you are expected to drive in less than ideal condition.

Its very boring and killing the interest when we have red flags for little debris or some rain or sponsor hoarding damage.

Also, the radio message is like listening to kindergarten kids complaining to the teacher

I was in the front... he dint leave me enough space... he pushed me to side... I had the racing line...

Also absurd are FIA rules, Verstappen was a bit out of position on the final restart. But FIA had an explanation for this, hence no penalty.

But Sainz gets a penalty for a lap which is not counted

Regards

[Hatari]

What chaos!

A race 2-3 laps from the end should not be restarted with a standing start. There is simply too much desperation from the drivers to get greedy rather than the long game approach taken towards the start of the race.

In the end, the correct race restart order.

One can put Logan's torpedo moment as rookie error, not other experienced drivers. Gasly/Sainz/Stroll etc really need to think long and hard about close racing, far too many incidents. They are not rookies anymore.

I was quite surprised to see so many in the top 10 lapping at the same pace during the course of the race, all managing tires, would have imagined some trying a 2 stop and pushing hard on the Hards, to then go onto a set of softs at the end. Keeping in mind a new set and DRS would be a potent combo.

Mercedes have found some pace which is good to see. They are masters at bashing themselves and claiming they have recovered superbly! Sets up the battle with Aston nicely, whose next test is the development war. The top 3 teams are quite rapid in bringing updates.

Now the long wait to Baku!

[prashant316]

Race of the year so far.

And I am back with my analysis of the 2 broadcasters and their commentary.

I kept switching between Sky and F1 TV broadcasts between qualifying and the race. Here are my thoughts for this race:

F1 TV:
In direct comparison, i couldnt help but notice and miss analysis and direct info from standby observers. The commentary was fun to hear and the data, info and analysis shared was on point and tickled my need for data too.

I couldnt help but notice this specific urge to keep pointing out that F1 is the closest this year than it ever has been. It is close (barring the Red Bulls), but the incessant urge to keep repeating it may have to do with promoting F1?

I sorely wish that during session breaks (especially between Q1, Q2) they have these short analysis screen like Sky does with Karun to catch up on parts which we missed during the live broadcast and to dig deeper in the incidents and key moments of the session.
This is some thing that Sky does well. Which brings me to...

Sky
While they do these in between session analysis, we never get to see it visually as it is only available to Sky Glass and Sky Q customers (available in UK and maybe few other countries). I feel like being treated like a step child sitting in India trying to consume F1 content from Sky.
But during the main broadcast itself, i find Sky much ahead of F1 TV now. There is a higher excitement and entertainment factor, more humour (i.e. British humour mostly, which I like), banter with co presenters, all of which keeps you more involved.
On top of this, their standby analyzers like Ted, Karun provide a required change of voice and on ground analysis directly from the pit lane. You get to hear of things that you can never see during the broadcast. Me Happy!
Another advantage is their short talks with one team principal during the sessions each weekend (Otmar for this race). You get to know of a few things directly from the horses mouth. I was very keen to hear what he had to say after the Gasly and Ocon crash and i wasnt disappointed as Sky connected with him soon after the Red flag was thrown out.

There is a lot of chatter on social media that Sky and especially Ted are biased towards the British drivers and especially Lewis. I kept a keen ear out for this one as well. I personally didnt feel so much of that. Probably there are a lot of Dutch fans commenting on social media these days. Anyone else feeling Sky is biased towards the English drivers?

In all, Sky wins this race for me.

[anand_roy]

F1 needs to take a long hard look into their rules. Standing in the pit lane for more than 20 minutes just to run a lap behind the safety car to finish the race in plain and simple ridiculous.

The other thing that they should also look into is the design of the street circuits and do improvements. There were just too many incidents on the 3 days (and the rains did not help either). The Vegas GP is getting added and that too is a street circuit.

The other observation is how Max has matured. He did not fight much when the Mercedes' crossed him during the start - he knew that, with DRS, they could not fight him in a straight line. A Max from 2021 would have gone bonkers.

[Hatari]

Incidents were mainly caused by cold Hard tires, given the cooler weather.
Maybe they should go down 1 softer on the tire range.

Originally Posted by anand_roy

F1 needs to take a long hard look into their rules. Standing in the pit lane for more than 20 minutes just to run a lap behind the safety car to finish the race in plain and simple ridiculous.

What would you do?