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Tyres NorthamptonThe Australian Grand Prix is this weekend for F1's third race, a little later than what had become the sport's traditional season-opening round. The curtain-raising event or not, 2023's trip Down Under will be a game of catching the Red Bulls as the reigning constructors' champions laid down the gauntlet in the opening two Grands Prix.
It would be foolish to think there'll be a new winner in 2023 this weekend after the relative ease with which Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez enjoyed their wins in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. However, that doesn't mean it'll be a procession, with the circuit changes that debuted last year allowing far more Aussie overtaking opportunities since Melbourne joined the grid in 1996.
A proposed fourth DRS zone came with 2022's many layout alterations. F1 implemented it for Friday's practice sessions but then scrapped it following safety concerns from drivers and teams regarding the extreme porpoising that plagued last season's early races. With the bouncing effect far more under control, we're in for the fastest Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit with fourth DRS zone back on the track map.
By itself, that's not the most thrilling news, but considering how the reduced drag keeps drivers within touching distance of their competitors, it might keep the fight for the lead alive far longer than we've seen so far in 2023. With the intense battle to be the second-best team raging between Aston Martin, Mercedes, and Ferrari, we could see some tit-for-tat overtaking among the trio's six drivers.
Cooler temperatures than expected for an Melbourne March will see Pirelli's tyres become vitally important. The drivers will have the C2, C3, and C4 options for the weekend — the second-softest trio of rubber in the Italian company's repertoire.
Last year had the teams skipping the soft compound in the race, but that avoidance was thanks to Pirelli's gap in compound choice when they left the C4 out and brought the C5 with the C2 and C3.
That won't be the case in 2023, and the tyre strategy options will be wide open to allow some aggressive strategies. For example, you may recall Alex Albon getting his first point for backmarkers Williams last year, thanks to running nearly the entire race distance on one set of hards.
Max Verstappen will want to bounce back from his P2 finish in Saudi Arabia after teammate Sergio scored his fifth career win. The Dutch champion suffered a mechanical problem in qualifying that had him fighting through the order in the race, eventually finishing five seconds adrift, but with a podium trip never in doubt.
However, Perez will want to springboard off his early title challenge. He sits one solitary point away from the championship lead and will like to think he's in with a chance of becoming a world champion. With Red Bull's 2023 advantage, any request for him to be a rear gunner to Verstappen won't work as in 2021 or 2022. The Mexican racer will know he's one of only two men on the grid who can take the crown this year.
Should any issues hit either or both Red Bulls, and remember Verstappen retired with a fuel leak last year, Fernando Alonso looks like the heir apparent. The Spaniard has taken two consecutive podiums and seems as hungry for silverware as he was in his championship-winning years. With Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, and Lance Stroll all in contention, the fight for third is one to watch.
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Australia might not occupy the traditional season-starting slot in 2023, but it still has the early-morning alarm for 6 AM. Melbourne's clocks fall back this weekend, so don't check the local times to avoid confusion. Here are the times you need to know.
Qualifying – On air: 5 AM, Session start: 6 AM Saturday 1st April
Race – On air: 4:30 AM, Session start: 6 AM Sunday 2nd April
Qualifying – 11:15 AM Saturday 1st April
Race – 12:30 PM Sunday 2nd April
Qualifying & Race – It's unseasonably cool for the southern-coast city. Autumnal showers have hit the area all week but look likely to ease off for the weekend. Temperatures won't break over 18°C on race day, with Saturday even milder at 15°C.