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| Albert Park, Melbourne |
The season's first GP weekend is always one of the most interesting. Some drivers have switched teams, the cars are brand new, some new regulations maybe and also because we have waited for the season to start for so long.
Like I usually do I will continue by talking about the track and some previous races in Melbourne.
The track is actually a street circuit around the Albert Park lake and it looks like this:
Melbourne - Albert Park has been a part of Formula One since the year 1996 when Damon Hill won the first ever race there. If we talk about the current drivers then the most successful driver at Albert Park is probably Jenson Button. Let's see...
Jenson Button has won there three times in 2009, 2010 and 2012. He has also taken his first pole position there with Honda in 2006.
Then there is Kimi Räikkönen who has won 2 races at Albert Park in 2007 with Ferrari and in 2013 with Lotus.
He started his career in 2001 by taking 6th place for Sauber at that same circuit. The following year he replaced the two time world champion Mika Häkkinen at McLaren and took his first podium in the first race at Melbourne. In 2006 he was 2nd right after Fernando Alonso who is the third best scoring driver at Melbourne (from the current drivers).
Alonso has won only one race there in 2006 but has been on the podium 4 times excluding the win. Unfortunately Alonso is not driving this weekend so there's no point of talking about him more then this.
Then there is Lewis Hamilton who won in 2008 and he's been on the podium 3 times excluding the win. Last year he could have won the race but retired and gave his teammate Nico Rosberg the win.
Oh and Sebastian Vettel has also won there once in 2011 but he has been on the podium only 2 times excluding the win. Now with the improved Ferrari he might do pretty good so keep an eye on him this weekend.
Daniel Ricciardo did well last year but was disqualified after the race because Red Bull had some problems of understanding the rule book apparently. Don't wanna get into that subject now.
Valtteri Bottas could have easily been on the podium last year but made a mistake and lost a lot of positions. He didn't have enough time to catch the top3. Bottas made the most overtaking maneuvers in that race though.
Kevin Magnussen, who is replacing Fernando Alonso this weekend, was on the podium in his first race at Melbourne but that has been his only podium of his career. I do not think we will see a McLaren up there this weekend. They need a lot more work to get the whole package to work for them.
Statistically the best drivers at the Australian GP are the world champions Button, Räikkönen, Alonso (not going to drive), Hamilton and Vettel in that order. Of course we have to keep in mind that Button has raced there the most, Räikkönen was away for two years and Hamilton+Vettel are younger drivers who started back in 2007).
Both Button and Räikkönen won with two different teams. Button with Brawn and McLaren, Räikkönen with Ferrari and Lotus. This year Button drivers for McLaren and Räikkönen for Ferrari.
I think that Hamilton still has the best chances because Mercedes has shown very good pace in the winter testing as they did last season as well. In fact all of the Mercedes powered cars have been great again!
Last but not least my predictions:
Pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
The race:
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
- Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
- Valtteri Bottas, Williams
Fastest lap: Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari
Surprise: Kimi Räikkönen will do much better than last year!
Join our PREDICTORS LEAGUE now!
POINTS: 1st - 3
2nd - 5
3rd - 10
+ possible bonus points
HOW IT WORKS: the aim of the game is simply predict who comes where in the race (top3). A total of 18 points can be won on a race day. For example if you get the winner and 3rd place right but 2nd wrong you get 13 points.
A table will be posted up every race weekend. The point scoring system will change once the cars become more competitive. Everyone will say a merc 1,2 so it won't be close or fun.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PREDICTIONS: send an email to f14lifeblog@gmail.com or message the Facebook page to submit your predictions. You have until lights out to make them. If you submit them when the race has started they won't count. So be quick!
THE PRIZE: the winner of the league will win him- or herself an admin place on the F1 4 LIFE Facebook page along side AE, JT, MW & MH. If you don't want to be an admin you are welcome to participate anyway.
Last year's winner Peter McLaren didn't want to be an administrator so I made him a special member instead. As a special member he has the power to decide what we will predict for to get bonus points. I will give you more information about that later on the Facebook page.
Enjoy the first Grand Prix weekend! I know I will ;)
