The 2014 Formula One season kicks off this weekend at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Victoria.
Albert Park has been the season opener since 1996 (with the exception of 2006, due to the schedule conflict with the Commonwelath games ) and from past history, whoever finishes on the top step of the podium in Melbourne usually emerges as the World Drivers Champion. 10 of the 18 winners in Melbourne have gone on to be the World Champion by year’s end.
The Albert Park circuit has been a fan favorite and, more importantly, a drivers favorite, mainly because of the track layout and to some extent the ambiance of the host city. The first corner (across the Brabham and Jones grandstands) offers the best vantage point for fans wanting to see drivers try to pass each other, especially during the start of the race. Another good viewing point is at Turn 15 and 16—the final set of corners before the cars head down the pit straight. And of course: the start / finish line—this is where cars tend to step out of the track, their left rear tires just touching the damp grass. This can result in a lack of grip and eventually a loss of position or, even worse, a car hitting the wall and ending one’s race. But for some outright overtaking maneuvers, Turn 3 would offer the best opportunity. The drivers run flat out and try to outbrake each other for the tight right-hander. It’s a good spot to get a good exit speed for the following corner and recapture lost positions.
Melbourne is known for having four seasons in a day, with temperature shifts of about 10 degrees or more, either way. This fluctuation poses a major concern for the teams engineers. Temperature directly affects tire grip and engine cooling. Too cold and tires will lack grip; too hot and tires will blister faster. Running too little or too much engine cooling will rob the engine of the much needed horsepower. The practice sessions are held during warmer mid-day temperatures, while the race start is at 5 p.m. local time. All teams will surely be searching for the optimal tire wear and balance, as well as the proper engine cooling for their respective cars.
Pundits have made their choices, and most have picked the Mercedes AMG Petronas pair to take honors down under. Based on pre-season testing, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are about 1.5 seconds ahead of everyone. Ferrari will always be a contender, especially now with both Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso donning the red race suits. On the other hand, smart money will always be with Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel. The defending champions have not made too much progress during the tests but speculations abound that they have something up their sleeves and should be ready by this weekend.
All this being said, the only question left unanswered is: Are you ready yet?
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