Formula 1 Heineken Australian Grand Prix 2022Formula 1

[Jimlaad43]

After a long wait, Formula One finally returns to Australia for the first time since the ill-advised trip in March 2020 with the COVID Pandemic looming forcing it's cancellation on the eve of Friday Practice. Since then, the circuit has gone through a major redesign, with many corner apexes widened, and one chicane completely removed. The circuit will now be a lot more high-speed than before, prompting some pretty spectacular onboards I can imagine. The circuit has faced criticism over the last few years for being too short and narrow for cars to pass, so these adjustments will hope to solve that problem. Ferrari and Red Bull are super close this season, with the Midfield being a crazy collection of swapping orders. Who will come out on top here? We'll find out at the AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX!

First Grand Prix
1996​

Number of Laps
58​

Circuit Length
5.303km​

Race Distance
307.574 km​

Lap Record
1:24.125 Michael Schumacher (2004)​

 

[NICKname]

Four DRS zones, Melbourne, FOUR? That's insane.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Lap Record: 1:24.125 - Michael Schumacher - 2004

Last time out, 2019:
Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton - 1:20.486

Podium:
1. Bottas
2. Hamilton
3. Verstappen

Fastest Lap: Valtteri Bottas - 1:25.580

Old lap records will be out of the window, as the old turn 9-10 chicane gets cut in favour of a long blast through the park to the new turn 9-10, the old 10-11 high speed chicane, which should be electric viewing with the new ground effect cars.

Other changes include widening of the track at Turns 1, 3, 6, 11 and 12 – while Turns 11 and 12 are set to have their cambers altered to allow multiple racing lines. The widening of the track at Turn 6, meanwhile, will increase speeds dramatically at that corner, up from a current minimum speed of around 149 km/h to 219 km/h.

Should be an exciting watch.

 

[PeterJB]

Last year all the discussions were about track limits, this year it's apparently gonna be the new game of DRS Chicken. Everyone is gonna trying and make their passes at turn 11 but nowhere else.

 

[SlowGrayAudi]

I just hope for more excitement at the front.

 

[ScottPuss20]

I'm going on Saturday and Sunday for the first time in my 21 years which should be good. It will be the biggest event I've ever been to and with the promise of better racing, it could be the best event I've ever been to. With all the tickets sold for Saturday and Sunday, the atmosphere will be insane so I'm super excited.

 

[NotThePrez]

It's really cool seeing how happy everyone is for F1 to be back in Australia, and how everyone within F1 is especially happy for Danny Ric to be back home.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Turn 9 looks awesome now, for the Supercars at least, with the cars squirming under braking thanks to the faster entry. Can’t wait to see how the F1 cars tackle it.

 

[NickGuy]

K-MAG HYPE TRAIN

CALLING IT NOW PODIUM FOR HAAS

 

[XJ40]

Gasly, Magnussen and Sainz for the podium.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Safety car on board of the new layout. Turn 3 looks much better for passing, turn 6 looks like it won't be far off of being flat and turn 11 is a super sharp turn now. Very cool changes.

 

[Jezza819]

I'm liking the changes to the track so far. Can't wait to drive it in the new game.

 

[-Fred-]

Wow, did they send the 2021 Haases to Australia by mistake? Mick is 4.5 seconds off Sainz in FP1...

 

[TumeK5]

Still faster than AMR22.

 

[Jezza819]

deleted

 

[Blitz24]

View attachment 1134890

Still faster than AMR22.

Oh no.

 

[TumeK5]

Oh no.

Oh my god, that's so creepy. It looks like it's the exact same frame I took!

 

[Samus]

So I'm not imagining it, they did pull the walls in on several corners.

 

[Lion-Face]

So I'm not imagining it, they did pull the walls in on several corners.

That, or the track is wider and now comes up to the walls which are in the same place?

 

[Cap'n Jack]

The track is the same width in those areas. They’ve probably brought the walls in so that if a driver does crash, it’s more likely to be a side-on impact.

While on the topic, they have made some adjustments at Turn 5 after a few run-ins with the Tecpro barriers in the support races.

 

[-Fred-]

Vettel just binned it pretty good, I don't think they'll have the car fixed for qualifying.

 

[Quakebass]

Mclaren and Haas seem to have suddenly flipped in terms of pace in practice so far, and Alpine is going mightily consistent to the point they could be pushing the front runners.

Aston… 🤪

 

[OutlawQuadrnt]

Wonder if Haas simply told their drivers not to push at all because they simply can't afford to crash.

...and Aston Martin may be joining that club as well.

 

[-Fred-]

Well I guess we already know who's starting 19th and 20th.

And I know it means literally, absolutely, completely **** all in the grand scheme of things because it's just FP3, but as a McLaren fan seeing Lando end up P1 is so satisfying.

 

[McLaren]

Wonder who this is possibly aimed at.

 

[Jimlaad43]

That Mercedes looks awful to drive

 

[Sum1s2pid]

Oh no, Stroll and Latifi. Not a good weekend for those guys. 😐

 

[-Fred-]

What the **** are you doing fellow Canadians?

 

[NotThePrez]

A bit of a smooth brain moment from Stroll just now.

Edit: It seems that Stroll was actually moving to let one of the Alfas through, and didn't expect Latifi to come through. Still a really odd incident, though.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Stroll, what an idiot there. Just plain turned into Latifi down a straight.