Opinion
It’s a surreal feeling being only hours away from the brave new era Formula One cars being unleashed upon Albert Park for the first practice session at the Melbourne street circuit in three years.
Still vivid are the memories of Friday the 13th, that fateful day in March 2020 when the reality of the Coronavirus pandemic hit Formula One. Having been there to witness and report the happenings, it really felt as if this could be end of the sport in Australia.
While F1 has been away from our familiar shores, the championship raced on in whatever way it could to ensure there could still be racing. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes clinched their seventh world championships respectively in 2020, while an epic 2021 duel between Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ended with the Dutchman dethroning the established order.
2022 then with the return of a fresh Albert Park; aplomb with many of its own circuit changes, sees a new generation of Formula One take centre stage. Changes to the 5.2km track can be summarised in the widening of several corners, adjustment to cambers as well as the removal of the Turns 9 and 10 chicane to create an extended back straight along the lake.
Originally mooted for 2021, before the ongoing closure of international travel to Australia saw the race cancelled and replaced by the Qatar Grand Prix, the modifications to the track is set to see lap times in the vicinity of 5 seconds per lap quicker than the previous generation of car.
The changes have already seen some carnage caused at Turn 5, with several support category incidents with the tech-pro barriers on the outside of the corner. Whether we see Formula One drivers get caught exploring the limits there remains to be seen.
In terms of the cars, the return to ground effect aerodynamics and a freeze on power-unit development until 2026, has seen a shift in power atop the standings – with Ferrari re-emerging to take the fight to Red Bull. The two races run so far in 2022 have seen title hopeful Charles Leclerc split wins with reigning world champion Verstappen, as the pair put on a close battle in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Mercedes’ reign which has run since the start of the turbo-hybrid era dating back to 2014, looks very much to be under threat having begun this new era of regulations on the back foot. Porpoising on the outside appears to be plaguing the W13, however a more fundamental chassis issue could be the root of their troubles.
The Ferrari and Red Bull rivalry though appears to dominate proceedings at Albert Park, and then it being a matter of who will be best of the rest with potential of being on the periphery of a podium finish.
A race of attrition could be on the cards on the faster track layout, so expect the unexpected.
Names like Valtteri Bottas, who was the previous winner for Mercedes in 2019 and has been competitive thus far at his new team in Alfa Romeo and Kevin Magnussen who on his Formula One debut scored a podium for McLaren in 2014, could be outsiders for strong results.
While for Daniel Ricciardo, who had a dismal debut for Renault last time out at his home race in 2019, will have to brave through avoiding similar disappointment given the torrid start to 2022 he has had for McLaren.
The team as a whole though will need to rebound to avoid slumping into the depths of the backmarkers.
Though it is the on-track action that fans Down Under have been deprived of since 2019, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation have spared no proverbial expense in creating the sorely missed carnival atmosphere of the Australian Grand Prix. From the support categories, to the Melbourne Walk and activations such a life-sized, 280,315-piece Lego McLaren Formula One car – there is no surprise that a new record of attendance is expected for this weekend.
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