Melbourne’s Albert Park welcomes back the Australian Grand Prix, a venue it has hosted since 1996.
In a notable turn, two Australians, Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri, take to the grid, eyeing a momentous home victory.
Gear up for the 58-lap race kicking off at 3pm AEDT on Sunday with this all-inclusive guide.
Pirelli has made a bold move ahead of this weekend’s racing. For the first time this season, drivers will have access to the C5 compound – Pirelli’s softest option.
In addition to the C5, they can also utilize the C4 and C3 compounds. Interestingly, the safest compound, which hasn’t seen action since 2022, will remain unused once again in Melbourne. However, unlike in 2022, when the C2 and C3 compounds were brought along, this year sees the introduction of the C4.
Teams have had limited exposure to the C5 tire, with minimal testing during pre-season. During the Bahrain tests, the ten F1 teams only covered a combined total of 140 kilometers on the C5, significantly less than any other tire. Lewis Hamilton’s extensive run on the C5 in Bahrain may give his Mercedes team an advantageous position for the Melbourne race.
While softer tires typically offer greater speed, they also endure more degradation. The introduction of the C5 could lead to varied race strategies, potentially deviating from the usual one-stop strategy seen at Albert Park.
Alongside the F1 action, Australia’s premier racing category, Supercars, will also take to the track with four sprint races. Albert Park, being the fastest track of the season, promises thrilling racing with an average speed of around 180 km/h.
The weekend’s schedule includes 19-lap races on Thursday and Friday, timed at 40 minutes each, followed by 14-lap races on Saturday and Sunday, capped at half an hour. With no pit stops, it’s all about flat-out sprint racing.
Over 450,000 spectators are expected to flock to Albert Park over the four days of racing. Fans can catch every moment of the Australian Grand Prix, including practice, qualifying, and races, live and ad-break free on Foxtel. Additionally, Kayo Sports subscribers can enjoy every session of the F1 live in 4K for the first time.
