FIA press conference schedule - Australia

Amongst the drivers who will take part in the official FIA press conference in Melbourne on Thursday will be home favourite (and new Red Bull driver) Daniel Ricciardo. And on Friday it is the turn of senior team personnel - including Renault engine guru Remi Taffin - to answer questions from the press. The line-ups in full...

Thursday, March 13, 1500 hours local time (0500 CET)
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Kevin Magnussen (McLaren), Felipe Massa (Williams), Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

Friday, March 14, 1830 hours local time (0830 CET) 
Eric Boullier (McLaren), Stefano Domenicali (Ferrari), Christian Horner (Red Bull), Remi Taffin (Renault F1), Claire Williams (Williams), Toto Wolff (Mercedes)

The qualifying and post-race conferences with the top three drivers will take place immediately after the respective sessions.

Formula1.com will bring you full transcripts.

(source: f1.com)

Vital Statistics - the Australian Grand Prix

The Formula One racing community loves visiting Australia, but which teams and drivers have fared best Down Under? And which previous winner started the furthest back on the grid? On the eve of the 2014 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, we highlight all the important statistics, facts and figures about the season opening race…

Circuit: Albert Park, Melbourne

Circuit length: 5.303km

Number of corners: 16 (6 left, 10 right)

DRS zones: 2

Race laps: 58

Race distance: 307.574km

Tyre compounds: Medium, Soft

Circuit lap record: 1m 24.125s, Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), 2004

First world championship Grand Prix: 1985, Adelaide (won by Keke Rosberg, Williams)

Number of races: 29 (11 in Adelaide, 18 in Melbourne)

Longest race: 1985 (2h 40.473s)

Shortest race: 1991 (24m 34.899s - an F1 record)

Most appearances (current field): 14 - Jenson Button; 12 - Fernando Alonso; 11 - Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa; 8 - Nico Rosberg; 7 - Lewis Hamilton

Most wins (drivers): 4 - Michael Schumacher; 3 - Jenson Button; 2 - Alain Prost, Gerhard Berger, Ayrton Senna, Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Kimi Raikkonen

Most wins (teams): 11 - McLaren; 7 - Ferrari; 5 - Williams; 2 - Renault; 1 - Benetton, Brawn, Red Bull, Lotus

Most wins (engine manufacturer): 8 - Renault, 7 - Ferrari, Mercedes; 4 - Honda; 2- Ford; 1 - TAG

Most pole positions (drivers): 6 - Ayrton Senna; 3 - Nigel Mansell, Mika Hakkinen, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel; 2 - Jacques Villeneuve, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton

Most pole positions (teams): 10 - McLaren; 6 - Williams, Ferrari; 3 - Red Bull, 1 - Lotus, Renault, Honda, Brawn

Most pole positions (engine manufacturers): 10 - Renault; 6 - Honda, Ferrari, Mercedes; 1 - Ford

Number of wins from pole in Australia: 13 wins from 29 races (44.8 percent)

Number of wins from pole in Melbourne: 8 wins from 18 races (44.4 percent)

Lowest winning grid position: 11th (David Coulthard, McLaren, 2003)

Laps led (current field): 150 - Jenson Button; 96 - Kimi Raikkonen; 85 - Sebastian Vettel; 62 - Lewis Hamilton; 61 - Fernando Alonso; 11 - Adrian Sutil; 3 - Felipe Massa; 1 - Nico Rosberg

Most podium places (current field): 5 - Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen; 4 - Lewis Hamilton; 3 - Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel; 1 - Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa

Number of Australians to have competed in F1 racing: 14

Best finish by an Australian in Australia: 4th (Mark Webber, Red Bull, 2012)

(source: f1.com)