The third round of the season brings Formula 1 to Australia. Can Red Bull continue to dominate? The last victory for the team in Melbourne was won by a German twelve years ago.
Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez? There is unlikely to be another winner in the Formula 1 race on Sunday (7 a.m. / Sky) in Melbourne, Australia.
Red Bull started the year so dominantly that the competition is already desperate. However, the world champion team has not had success Down Under for more than a decade.
Who should stop Red Bull on their way to the next victory?
It seems as if only one’s own mistakes can cause failure. World champion Verstappen won at the start in Bahrain and was recently second behind stable rival Perez in Saudi Arabia after a messed up qualifying. The Red Bulls are stronger than they have ever been – and they also want to end a negative series.
In 2011, on the way to his second world championship title, Sebastian Vettel clinched the last Grand Prix victory for the racing team in Albert Park, which is steeped in tradition. Recently, Verstappen and Perez had a strong run, winning twelve of the last 13 World Championship races. For Verstappen it is also the return to the place where the now 25-year-old made his Formula 1 debut at the age of just 17 in 2015.
What about Mercedes and Ferrari?
Ferrari at least has excellent memories of Melbourne. Monegasque Charles Leclerc drove to pole position last year and won the race a day later, and Vettel also won for Scuderia in 2017 and 2018. At the moment, however, the car is just as little good enough for a serious attack on Red Bull as it is on Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton last won in Australia in 2015, after which the Silver Arrows superstar finished second four times. This should now be unattainable under normal circumstances. “The gap to the top is still considerable, and that’s exactly what we want to reduce,” said Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff, who sees the field behind Red Bull close together.
Can Nico Hulkenberg get his first point for Haas?
In Saudi Arabia, Nico Hulkenberg got out of his Haas racing car a little disappointed. In the second Grand Prix after his return to Formula 1, the 35-year-old could have gotten a point. In the end, he came home empty handed in twelfth place, and there were no points at the start either in 15th place.
The course in Melbourne suits the veteran, in five of his last six appearances it was enough for the top ten, most recently seventh in 2019 in the Renault. “We are competitive,” Hulkenberg judged last. In the narrow midfield, however, the fight for position for the successor to Mick Schumacher in the team from the USA will be tough.
What characterizes the route?
The course in Albert Park leads around a man-made lake and was recently rebuilt. In order to be able to overtake more and better, several sections have been widened and made easier to drive. The track with 14 corners over a length of 5.279 kilometers is located on the southeast coast of the huge country.
Many drivers love the special flair in the city – and the Australians love Formula 1. Before the pandemic, Melbourne was traditionally the place for the start of the season, this year, as in 2022, the third world championship round will take place in the metropolis.
When will practice, qualifying and the race take place and who will be broadcasting the Australian Grand Prix?
It starts with the first free practice on Friday morning at 3.30 a.m. CEST. The second exercise session, also over an hour, is scheduled for 7:00 a.m. CEST. After the 3rd free practice session on Saturday (3.30 a.m. CEST), qualifying starts at 7.00 a.m. CEST, as do the races the following day. Everything is transmitted by the pay channel Sky.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
