Albert Park, Australia
One of the longest standing season opening tracks in F1 history, Albert Park joined the parade in 1996 after a deal was struck for the track in 1993, using a mixture of roads around Melbourne’s park such as Aughtie Drive and Lakeside Drive. The track took over from the former Australian grand prix in Adelaide, with the last race held at that particular track in 1995.
The inaugural race in Melbourne saw Jacque Vilneuve take pole but saw Damon Hill win the 58 lap race, taking the lead from team-mate at Williams, Vilneueve, due to him nursing an oil leak issue, allowing Hill to catch and pass.
Although being known as not always the most exciting race, the track always brings a buzz with it due to being so inter-linked with the beginning of a brand new season. In fact, it stills very strange the first race is anywhere but Australia with COVID taking it’s title away with no plans to re-instate it in it’s throne. Going there in the third round of 2022, it will be interesting to see the drivers knowledge of the track after having not raced there for two years and also how the new cars adapt.
Even before COVID, there was much talk of needing a new season opener due to Albert Park often not showcasing what could be foreseeable in the season ahead. Sure, both 2017 and 2018 saw Hamilton against Vettel for what would be the title fight in those respective years, but the track doesn't;t allow for a huge amount of overtaking and therefore, causing the first race to feel more like a parade than a race.
Going to Austria in 2020 after a long drought of no F1, the Red bull Ring showed us what season openers could be the excitement they could carry with the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix being one of excitement and actual overtaking. Moving to Bahrain in the following years, the last 3 season openers have provided a thrilling start to the season ahead, helping build anticipation for that years fights.
However, work has be ongoing on the track since it’s disappearance from the calendar; looking to increase speeds by 15 kph and creating a fourth DRS zone (I remember when there were only two to risk sounding an old man), Albert Park is trying to fix it’s overtaking conundrums. Turn one has been widened by 2.5 metres, encouraging different lines while furthering battles into turn 2 and 3. Turn 3 is seeing itself also being widened, being known as a particularly tight corner that stops fighting while increasing minimum corner speed by 102 km/h. Turn 6 has the biggest widening job of 7.5 metres with the minimum corner speed increased by a 70 km/h, reducing turbulent air, encouraging racing into turns nine and ten, which is seeing the chicane removed. In doing this, Albert Park is going to have one long curved straight which will only help overtaking. The list of changes are extensive and there’s a list a page more but all are good and, although the Albert Park we know might be easy to see at points, I’m looking forward to it’s new makeover. I love the track and if anything can help it become even better, I’m all for it.
Australia of course deserves to be on the grid with drivers such as Ricciardo still racing and upcoming talent in Piastri and Lawson in the paddock, there is still a need for the race. Putting later in the season may favour the racing there while, especially in 2022, the excitement of the track still exists. I’m sure Danny Ric is looking forward to getting home after previously speaking about being homesick and we are looking forward to returning.
