Formula One heads Down Under for the first time since a failed attempt in 2020 as teams gear up for the 2022 Australian Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc enters this round as the championship leader with a 12 point lead over Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz as the Scuderia look to continue their revival whilst Red Bull look to continue igniting their title challenge.
Mercedes meanwhile will be looking to continue to cut their deficit to the frontrunners as they seek to retain their strong Qualifying record in Melbourne.
McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo however will be looking to bounce back from disappointment in Saudi Arabia with a strong result at his home race, as he returns to Melbourne for the first time since the 2019 race.
Now here is a full guide to everything that you need to know ahead of 2022 Australian Grand Prix.
Track Guide
Circuit: Albert Park Circuit
Laps: 58
Race Distance: 306.240km
Tyre Compounds: C2, C3 & C5
Schedule
| Date | Session | Time (BST) |
| Friday 8 April | FP1 | 4:00am |
| Friday 8 April | FP2 | 7:00am |
| Saturday 9 April | FP3 | 4:00am |
| Saturday 9 April | Qualifying | 7:00am |
| Sunday 10 April | Race | 6:00am |
Five Key Pointers
- Following circuit changes, teams should expect less pressure in terms of braking zones which will give McLaren a challenge in terms of setup given their brake issues and a tricky third sector.
- With four DRS Zones set to be in use around this circuit and the easiness in following cars this season, overtaking should hopefully improve and place less importance on Qualifying for this race.
- Having last raced around this circuit in 2019, teams won’t be able to really rely on previous data given the new generation cars and bigger Pirelli tyres.
- Mercedes are set to bring a new upgrade to this circuit but they face an uphill battle to claim a seventh straight pole position around Albert Park Circuit.
- With Fernando Alonso set to take a third Internal Combustion Engine at this race, Alpine will be looking for ways of improving their reliability despite a solid start to this season.
Last Time Out
F1 were set to race in Australia in 2020 after successfully arriving for the race in the preceding days but the race weekend was cancelled just hours before FP1, due to unwillingness of drivers and several teams to race just days after the World Health Organisation had declared a worldwide Coronavirus pandemic.
One McLaren member meanwhile had tested positive upon arrival whilst a further 14 members of the team later were forced to quarantine, which led to the team withdrawing from the race.
Leave a Reply