T9T8T1T2T4T5 T6 T7T10T16T12
T11T14T13T153
2019 RACE RECAP
THE MAIN EVENT
THE LAST FIVE WINNERS HERE...
128 GP RACING MARCH 2020
PICTURES:SAM BLOXHAM;STEVEN TEE.ILLUSTRATION:ALAN ELDRIDGEFINISHING STRAIGHT F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPROUND 1
13-15March2020
MelbourneRACE PREVIEW AUSTRALIAN GP
2019
Valtteri
Bottas
Mercedes2018
Sebastian
Vettel
Ferrari2017
Sebastian
Vettel
Ferrari2016
Nico
Rosberg
Mercedes2015
Lewis
Hamilton
MercedesRACEDATA
CircuitnameAlbertPark
Firstgrandprix 1996
Numberoflaps 58
Circuitlength3.295 miles
Racedistance191.117 miles
Longeststraight0.52 miles
Elevationchange8.5 feet
Laprecord1m 24.125s
Michael Schumacher (2004)
F1racesheld 24
Winnersfrompole 9
Pirellityrecompounds
C2, C3, C4CAR PERFORMANCE
DownforcelevelHigh
CoolingrequirementMedium
Fuelconsumption1.81kg/lap
Full throttle61%
Topspeed203mph
Averagespeed128mphTIME TABLE
(UK TIME)
Friday13 March
Practice101:00-02:30
Practice205:00-06:30
Saturd ay14 March
Practice303:00-04:00
Qualify ing06:00-07:00
Sunday15 March
Race05:10
Liveco verageSky Sports F1
Having appeared slightly off the pace in pre-seasontesting, HighlightsChannel 4
Mercedesmaje stically annexed thefront row. But polesitter
Lewis Hamilton got away from the line slowerthan team-
mateValtteri Bottas, who drove like aman possessed.
Hamilton was onthe backfoot all race after Mercedes
res pondedto Ferrari’s early pitstopfor SebastianVettel.
That locked him in to a less optimal strategy inwhich Lewis
had to manage one setof medium tyresfor the majority
of the race.Still, hewas able to fend off Vettel – and then
the Red Bull of MaxVerstappen,who roseto third asthe
Ferrari fade d to a distantfourth. It was a crushing winMelbourne has agreat sporting heritage and traditionally
lays out the welcome mat – barringa few protests from
residents– as F1 arrives for its season opener. But this
year the arrival of thegrand prix hasbeen overshadowed
by the legacy ofa summer of rampant bushfires which
have scarred vasttracts of countr yside, destroyedhomes,
and polluted theair of c ities suchas Melbourne.
F1 has staged an auctionto benefi t those affected, but
the staging of the race will still raise thehackles ofthose
who link thefi res with pollution-driven clima te change..
AlbertPark itselfis a challenging circuit but not one
blessed with manyovertaking opportunities,although
the additionof a second DRSzone in recent years has
improved matters. Fewer than half ofthe Australian Grands
Prix held here have been won from pole.KEY CORNER:Turn3is a low-medium-speed corner that’s
become a more frequent hunting area since the second
DRS zone was added. Cars now arrive here faster and
closertoge ther, but gravel awaits those whoget it wrong.for Bottas, who had afew choice wordsfor his 2018
detractors over theradio on his slowing-down lap.T9T8T1T2T4T5 T6 T7T10T16T12
T11T14T13T153
2019 RACE RECAP
THE MAIN EVENT
THE LAST FIVE WINNERS HERE...
128 GP RACING MARCH 2020
PICTURES
:SAM BL
OX
HAM
;STEVEN TEE
.ILLUSTRATION
:ALAN ELDRIDGE
FINISHING STRAIGHT F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPROUND 1
13-15March2020
MelbourneRACE PREVIEW AUSTRALIAN GP
2019
Valtteri
Bottas
Mercedes2018
Sebastian
Vettel
Ferrari2017
Sebastian
Vettel
Ferrari2016
Nico
Rosberg
Mercedes2015
Lewis
Hamilton
MercedesRACEDATA
CircuitnameAlbertPark
Firstgrandprix 1996
Numberoflaps 58
Circuitlength3.295 miles
Racedistance191.117 miles
Longeststraight0.52 miles
Elevationchange8.5 feet
Laprecord1m 24.125s
Michael Schumacher (2004)
F1racesheld 24
Winnersfrompole 9
Pirellityrecompounds
C2, C3, C4CAR PERFORMANCE
DownforcelevelHigh
CoolingrequirementMedium
Fuelconsumption1.81kg/lap
Full throttle61%
Topspeed203mph
Averagespeed128mphTIME TABLE
(UK TIME)
Friday13 March
Practice101:00-02:30
Practice205:00-06:30
Saturd ay14 March
Practice303:00-04:00
Qualify ing06:00-07:00
Sunday15 March
Race05:10
Liveco verageSky Sports F1
Having appeared slightly off the pace in pre-seasontesting, HighlightsChannel 4
Mercedesmaje stically annexed thefront row. But polesitter
Lewis Hamilton got away from the line slowerthan team-
mateValtteri Bottas, who drove like aman possessed.
Hamilton was onthe backfoot all race after Mercedes
res pondedto Ferrari’s early pitstopfor SebastianVettel.
That locked him in to a less optimal strategy inwhich Lewis
had to manage one setof medium tyresfor the majority
of the race.Still, hewas able to fend off Vettel – and then
the Red Bull of MaxVerstappen,who roseto third asthe
Ferrari fade d to a distantfourth. It was a crushing winMelbourne has agreat sporting heritage and traditionally
lays out the welcome mat – barringa few protests from
residents– as F1 arrives for its season opener. But this
year the arrival of thegrand prix hasbeen overshadowed
by the legacy ofa summer of rampant bushfires which
have scarred vasttracts of countr yside, destroyedhomes,
and polluted theair of c ities suchas Melbourne.
F1 has staged an auctionto benefi t those affected, but
the staging of the race will still raise thehackles ofthose
who link thefi res with pollution-driven clima te change..
AlbertPark itselfis a challenging circuit but not one
blessed with manyovertaking opportunities,although
the additionof a second DRSzone in recent years has
improved matters. Fewer than half ofthe Australian Grands
Prix held here have been won from pole.KEY CORNER:Turn3is a low-medium-speed corner that’s
become a more frequent hunting area since the second
DRS zone was added. Cars now arrive here faster and
closertoge ther, but gravel awaits those whoget it wrong.for Bottas, who had afew choice wordsfor his 2018
detractors over theradio on his slowing-down lap.