There is a certain air of predicament when the Formula One circus moves into Albert Park Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix. The circuit has for the best part of the last few years has played host the opening round of the season, however this year the circuit comes second in the calender and it's nice to be see the Albert Park Circuit again.
If there is one thing Melbourne differs from Bahrain is it's unforgivingness, with very little room for error around its tight and twist layout around a lake. The circuit is a street for the rest of the year and it not a race track, leaving the drivers with a different challenge from Bahrain, nevertheless it provides them with a full lap of high octane thrills. The circuit's barriers are much closer to the walls in Albert Park than they were in Bahrain which gave each driver plenty of run off area should they have made a mistake. A mistake in Melbourne could be costly, whether its being beached in the gravel trap, or a nasty trip into the barriers. Either way the race is over for any driver after that one lapse in concentration.
Since the season opener in Bahrain, which proved to be quite an anti-climax, there has been a backlash on the the season's new regulations which were put to blame for the poor spectacle in Bahrain. World Champion Jenson Button and the returning Michael Schumacher are just two of the drivers who have gone on to criticise the rules since Bahrain and feared that Formula One may just become a procession, leaving excitement much to be desired. The recent banning of refueling and the rule of starting on the same tyres the top ten qualifiers did their final run on have both come under for their own scrutinee. However many believe that the rules need more time before been judged and Bahrain was no circuit to draw conclusions on these new rules.
Ferrari come into the Australian Grand Prix after their Bahrain one-two and will be expected to be at the front once again. Red Bull Racing and their home-town hero Mark Webber will want to put a stable foot down on the championship after their disappointing start in Bahrain thanks to more relibility problems. Mclaren Mercedes and their all star pairing of Button and Hamilton will certainly want to be mroe closer to the front of the pack. With a lap around Melbourne half a minute shorter than it was in Bahrain, a paticular interest will be taken on the new teams towards the back of the pack, where they were about six seconds off the pace but thanks to the wide Bahrain circuit, very few problems were encountered. Melbourne is much more tighter and these slower cars could cause some disruption to the front and Formula One always takes that little bit of drama very nicely!
The Australian Grand Prix has always produced brilliant races and that is thanks to its tough and tight circuit. Crashes bring out the safety car and then it becomes and total lottery between many. There have been surprise results in the past and you wouldnt want to be a gambler when it comes to the Australian Grand Prix. It could be a Ferrari win just as easily as a Red Bull, Mclaren or Mercedes. The new rules will be closely watched this weekend and if this weekend proves to be as disappointing as Bahrain, then serious questions will have to asked regarding them. This only adds to the excitement and anticipation, it's like the season is starting once again, a sort of re-start. Let the lights go out, lets get racing!
Onboard lap of Melbourne with Hispania's Bruno Senna, the Newphew of the Late Aryton
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