Albert Park Begins its Preparation for the F1 Race, Signalling the Near End of the Winter Break

There are just over 42 days to go till lights out in Melbourne. F1 winter breaks can be tough on fans, but it serves us right for all those times we complained about the racing! However, fear not F1 fans, we’ve got just the fix for your Formula one withdrawal symptoms.

When a road car drives on an F1 track

In this video, we can feel what it’s like to drive a regular car around the Albert Park street circuit. It’s sometimes easy to forget that the Australian Grand Prix is held on a street circuit. This is partly due to the fantastic planning by the organizers and also the unique nature of the track.

The video covers the penultimate corner and the two main straights of the track. This is where one truly appreciates the beauty and performance of an f1 car. Another striking feature is how ‘naked’ the track appears when not used for racing.

As the car approaches the main straight, the sponsor boards are seen and the grandstands are being prepped. The only missing element is a giant blue sign that reads “Melbourne”. As the car accelerates, it’s almost tempting to reach into the video and press a virtual DRS button.

To whom it may concern..

As the car approaches turn 1, you’re hit with a ton of nostalgia and all the crazy incidents that have happened over the years. Montoya spinning out of the lead, Ralf Schumacher flying over Rubens Barrichello- ah, the carnage. But it is also noticeable how much better an F1 car handles when compared to a road car.

However, Melbourne is probably fondly remembered as the birthplace of Valtteri 2.0. Valtteri Bottas was unstoppable at the 2019 Australian GP- with the power of porridge by his side. The quick starting Finn bolted past Lewis Hamilton at the start and finished comfortably ahead of the Brit.

More importantly, he had some choice words for his haters.

Before teams leave for Melbourne, they must complete 2 sessions of winter testing that will begin on February 19. Testing will occur in 2 parts- on the 19th and 26th. Furthermore, each test will last for a period of 3 days. In 2019, Ferrari were firm favorites heading into the opening race, but we all know how that turned out.

The Australian Grand Prix will be a clear indicator of who’s done their homework and who hasn’t.