Formula 1 will race in Melbourne for the first time since 2019 for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.
F1’s last visit of 2020 was cut short amid the coronavirus pandemic, but we’re back at one of the drivers’ favorite venues.
Although it has often been the season opener, Albert Park hosts the third round of this season’s F1 World Championship after back-to-back grands prix in the Middle East.
Bahrain kicked off the season with Charles Leclerc leading ahead of Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz to claim Ferrari’s first one-two finish since the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix.
A week later in Saudi Arabia, F1 champion Max Verstappen took the upper hand after an intense duel with Leclerc up front.
Heading into this weekend’s race, F1 is racing on a heavily revised Albert Park circuit with four unprecedented DRS zones.
The track has been significantly modified with a number of widened and modified corners to improve wheel-to-wheel racing at the front of the peloton.
Lap times should be at least nine to 10 seconds faster, but the barriers remain close to the track, providing drivers with a tough challenge this weekend.
As for who comes out on top, Ferrari and Red Bull will undoubtedly remain the teams to beat, while Mercedes – who were due to introduce a number of improvements for this weekend – failed to do so.
The battle in midfield looks closer than ever, but Alpine will be hoping his new ground will tip the balance in his favor as he looks to get away from Haas and Alfa Romeo.
Haas doesn’t have a spare chassis, so Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen will have to run on their best.
Aston Martin welcomes Sebastian Vettel back after missing the first two races of the year.
Vettel was ruled out of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia rounds by covid but is back for this weekend after winning in Australia three times.
Finally, hometown hero Daniel Ricciardo is hoping to get his season off the ground after failing to score so far in 2022.
Previous F1 Australian Grand Prix winners:
2020-2021: Not held
2019: Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
2018: Sebastien Vettel (Ferrari)
2017: Sebastien Vettel (Ferrari)
2016: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2015: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2014: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2013: Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2012: Jenson Button (McLaren)
2011: Sebastien Vettel (Red Bull)
2010: Jenson Button (McLaren)
Most F1 Australian Grand Prix wins
Michael Schumacher: 4 wins (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004)
Sebastien Vettel: 3 wins (2011, 2017, 2018)
Jenson Button: 3 wins (2009, 2010, 2012)
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Full 2022 F1 calendar
March 18-20 – Round 1
Bahrain Grand Prix
March 25-27 – Round 2
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
April 8-10 – Round 3
Australian Grand Prix
April 22-24 – Round 4
Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
May 6-8 – Round 5
Miami Grand Prix
May 20-22 – Round 6
Spanish Grand Prix
May 27-29 – Round 7
June 10-12 – Round 8
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
June 17-19 – Round 9
Canadian Grand Prix
July 1-3 – Round 10
British Grand Prix
July 8-10 – Round 11
Austrian Grand Prix
July 22-24 – Round 12
French Grand Prix
July 27-29 – Round 13
Hungarian Grand Prix
August 26-28 – Round 14
Belgian Grand Prix
September 2-4 – Round 15
Dutch Grand Prix
September 9-11 – Round 16
Italian Grand Prix
September 30-October 2 – Round 17
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