2019 FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

[Big Kev]

2019 FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

Dun….dun dun dun dun dun dun da dun duuuunnnnn….

The 2019 Formula One World Championship is GO!

Calendar files

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ic ... /basic.ics

Teams and Drivers

Alfa Romeo Racing
Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari C38
Ferrari 064
7 Kimi Räikkönen
99 Antonio Giovinazzi

Scuderia Ferrari
Ferrari SF90
Ferrari 064
5 Sebastian Vettel
16 Charles Leclerc

Rich Energy Haas F1 Team
Haas-Ferrari VF-19
Ferrari 062
8 Romain Grosjean
20 Kevin Magnussen

McLaren F1 Team
McLaren-Renault MCL34
Renault E-Tech 19
4 Lando Norris
55 Carlos Sainz Jr.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport
Mercedes
F1 W10 EQ Power+
Mercedes M10 EQ Power+
44 Lewis Hamilton
77 Valtteri Bottas

SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team
Racing Point-BWT Mercedes RP19
BWT Mercedes
11 Sergio Pérez
18 Lance Stroll

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing-Honda RB15
Honda RA619H
10 Pierre Gasly
33 Max Verstappen

Renault F1 Team
Renault R.S.19
Renault E-Tech 19
3 Daniel Ricciardo
27 Nico Hülkenberg

Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda
Scuderia Toro Rosso-Honda STR14
Honda RA619H
23 Alexander Albon
26 Daniil Kvyat

ROKiT Williams Racing
Williams-Mercedes FW42
Mercedes M10 EQ Power+
63 George Russell
88 Robert Kubica

2019 FIA Formula One World Championship Race Calendar
1 Australian Grand Prix Albert Park March 15 – 17
2 Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain International Circuit March 29 – 31
3 Chinese Grand Prix Shanghai International Circuit April 12 – 14
4 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Baku City Circuit April 26 – 28
5 Spanish Grand Prix Circuit de Catalunya May 10 – 12
6 Monaco Grand Prix Monaco May 23 – 26
7 Canadian Grand Prix Circuit Gilles Villeneuve June 7 – 9
8 French Grand Prix Paul Ricard June 21 – 23
9 Austrian Grand Prix Red Bull Ring June 28 – 30
10 British Grand Prix Silverstone July 12 – 14
11 German Grand Prix Hockenheimring July 26 – 28
12 Hungarian Grand Prix Hungaroring August 2 – 4
13 Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps August 30 – September 1
14 Italian Grand Prix Monza September 6 – 8
15 Singapore Grand Prix Singapore September 20 – 22
16 Russian Grand Prix Sochi Autodrom September 27 – 29
17 Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka October 11 – 13
18 Mexican Grand Prix Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez October 25 – 27
19 United States Grand Prix Circuit of the Americas November 1 – 3
20 Brazilian Grand Prix Interlagos November 15 – 17
21 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Yas Marina November 29 – December 1

Tyres

No more hyper super dooper soft etc.
All races will just have Hard, Medium, Soft, Inters and Wets to make it easier for casual viewers. The actual compound used to make each tyre will be largely aligned to five of the compounds used in 2018.

Hard - White
Medium - Yellow
Soft - Red
Full Wet - Blue
Intermediate - Green


Team Changes

- Red Bull Racing signed a contract that will see the team end its twelve-year partnership with Renault and switch to Honda power units. In doing so, Red Bull Racing joined sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso in using Honda power after Scuderia Toro Rosso joined the Japanese manufacturer in 2018. Neither team will be recognised as Honda's official factory team under the terms of the agreement.

- The Racing Point F1 Team completed the transition from Racing Point Force India as a result of the purchase of Sahara Force India team's assets which began in August 2018.

- Sauber was renamed Alfa Romeo Racing as part of a sponsorship deal.


Driver Changes

IN
Daniil Kvyat [Scuderia Toro Rosso]
Alexander Albon [Scuderia Toro Rosso]
Lando Norris [McLaren]
Antonio Giovinazzi [Alfa Romeo Racing]
George Russell [Williams]
Robert Kubica [Williams]

OUT
Fernando Alonso [McLaren] - Retired
Brendon Hartley [Scuderia Toro Rosso] - Ferrari test drive role
Soffel Vandoorne [McLaren] - Formula E
Marcus Ericsson [Sauber] - Indycar
Sergey Sirotkin [Williams] - Renault F1 reserve driver
Esteban Ocon [Racing Point Force India] - Mercedes reserve driver

MOVED
Daniel Ricciardo [Red Bull Racing to Renault]
Charles Leclerc [Sauber to Ferrari]
Kimi Raikkonen [Ferrari to Alfa Romeo Racing]
Pierre Gasly [Scuderia Toro Rosso to Red Bull Racing]
Carlos Sainz [Renault to McLaren]
Lance Stroll [Williams to Racing Point F1]



Technical Regulation Changes

- In a bid to improve overtaking, teams agreed to a series of aerodynamic changes that affect the profile of the front and rear wings. The front wing endplates were reshaped to alter the airflow across the car and reduce the effects of aerodynamic turbulence and winglets above the main plane of the front wing have been banned. The slot in the rear wing was widened, making the drag reduction system (DRS) more powerful. The agreed-upon changes were drawn from the findings of a working group set up to investigate potential changes to the technical regulations in preparation for the 2021 championship.

- Parts of the technical regulations governing bodywork were rewritten in a bid to promote sponsorship opportunities for teams. The agreed changes are to mandate smaller bargeboards and limit aerodynamic development of the rear wing endplates to create more space for sponsor logos. The changes were introduced as a response to falling revenues amid teams and the struggles of smaller teams to secure new sponsors.

- The mandated maximum fuel levels were raised from 105 kg to 110 kg so as to minimise the need for drivers to conserve fuel during a race.

- Driver weights are no longer considered when measuring the minimum weight of the car. This change was agreed to following concerns that drivers were being forced to lose dangerous amounts of weight in order to offset the additional weight of the post-2014 generation of turbo-hybrid engines. Drivers who weigh less than 80 kg will have to make up this weight with ballast, located around the seat to minimise possible performance gains. The changes were introduced to eliminate the advantage drivers with a naturally-smaller body shape had over taller and heavier drivers, and to discourage unhealthy diet and exercise regimes to improve performance.

Sporting Regulation Changes

*TBC at time of writing*
The FIA World Motor Sport Council has approved plans for an extra Formula 1 world championship point to be awarded for fastest lap, starting from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The rules will follow a similar format to the one employed in Formula E, with the bonus point only being awarded if the driver concerned finishes in the top 10.


Safety Regulation Changes

- The FIA introduced a new standard for driver helmets designed to improve safety. Under the new standard, helmets will be subjected to a more thorough range of crash tests aimed at improving energy absorption and deflection as well as reducing the likelihood of objects penetrating the helmet's structure.



2019 FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX



Melbourne
Lap data
Lap length 5.303km (3.295 miles)
Race laps 58
Race distance 307.574km (191.118 miles)
Pole position Left-hand side of the track
Lap record* 1’24.125 (226.934 kph) by Michael Schumacher, 2004
Fastest lap 1’23.529 (228.553 kph) by Sebastian Vettel, 2011
Maximum speed 312kph (193.868 mph)
DRS zone/s (race) First and second straight
Distance from grid to turn one 380m
Full throttle 61%
Longest flat-out section 843m
Downforce level High
Fuel use per lap 1.66kg
Time penalty per lap of fuel 0.051s

UK Times
Friday 15th March 2019
Australian Grand Prix Free Practice 1: 12:00-13:30 (UK time: 1:00-2:30)
Australian Grand Prix Free Practice 2: 16:00-17:30 (UK time: 5:00-6:30)
Saturday 16th March 2019
Australian Grand Prix Free Practice 3: 14:00-15:00 (UK time: 3:00-4:00)
Australian Grand Prix Qualifying: 17:00 (UK time: 6:00)
Sunday 17th March 2019
Australian Grand Prix: 16:10 (UK time: 6:10)

Previous Winners
2018 Germany Sebastian Vettel Ferrari Albert Park
2017 Germany Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
2016 Germany Nico Rosberg Mercedes
2015 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2014 Germany Nico Rosberg Mercedes
2013 Finland Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault
2012 United Kingdom Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
2011 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2010 United Kingdom Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
2009 United Kingdom Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes
2008 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
2007 Finland Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
2006 Spain Fernando Alonso Renault
2005 Italy Giancarlo Fisichella Renault
2004 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari
2003 United Kingdom David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes
2002 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari
2001 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari
2000 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari

Videos

Vettel on board 2013


Barrichello on board 1996


Drivers’ Chosen Tyres

[nutty]

Not going again this year, I still love my F1 but im just really turned off Albert Park. Sure the facilities getting to/from it are fantastic and in venue they always do a good job.
But especially after going to the Bathurst 12 hour, Im just soo reminded at how crap the track layout is and how poor the general admission spectator views are... Honestly we need a dedicated racetrack or something.. at the very least lets finally change the track layout so they can overtake..

I did enjoy this during the AMA this week, wasnt it someone here who came up with this?

[Big Kev]

Formula 1 has confirmed it will change its scoring system this year by giving a point to the driver who sets the fastest lap in a grand prix.

The move is part of an attempt to make the sport more appealing and so grow audiences.

Drivers will only receive the extra point if they also finish in the top 10 in the race.

[pab]

Technical Regulation Changes

- In a bid to improve overtaking,

Would be interesting to go back over each of the first race of the season posts over the last 10 years or so, I'd be willing to bet some pretty good money that this line would appear in most, if not all of them!

[Big Kev]

Ferrari will be racing in Australia with a 90th anniversary livery
Not in any way related to the fact they can't have their tobacco winnow logo on there, oh no, definitely not.

[durbster]

Drivers will only receive the extra point if they also finish in the top 10 in the race.

Why does every F1 rule have to have its edges softened with some silly caveat like this?

[KNAPPO]

Ferrari will be racing in Australia with a 90th anniversary livery
Not in any way related to the fact they can't have their tobacco winnow logo on there, oh no, definitely not.

Awwww, they should have made it like an Aussie packet of smokes.

[w00dsy]

Drivers will only receive the extra point if they also finish in the top 10 in the race.

Why does every F1 rule have to have its edges softened with some silly caveat like this?

I was looking forward to Kubica and Russell bailing out of the fight for 19th to pit for C5's and try and get within a second of the front guys.

[Big Kev]

Drivers will only receive the extra point if they also finish in the top 10 in the race.

Why does every F1 rule have to have its edges softened with some silly caveat like this?

I was looking forward to Kubica and Russell bailing out of the fight for 19th to pit for C5's and try and get within a second of the front guys.

I guess they thought that could led to carnage with everyone from 11th down all pitting with 5 laps to go and possibly interfering with the top 3 when they're unlapping themselves as they blast past! Would have been fun though

[Duke]

[Big Kev]

[Big Kev]

oh Williams....

[pixelboy]

Depressing at both ends of the field!

[Duke]

[Exar Kun]

Somehow Williams have managed to build a slower car than the previous one two years running.

Claire was smiling before practice at the fan forum. She can't be now.

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[Big Kev]

Kubica is sounding very publicly critical too. I bet that's not going well with her.

As for the times, I just hope Ferrari and RB are sandbagging a bit!

The midfield looks like it'll be a great season-long scrap though.

Williams are like a new HRT. They'll never make up 2 secs all season with a bit of aero tweaking. Their design dept have some serious issues.

[Dr. Pain]

Something is a miss at Williams to have dropped the ball so fast. They started the hybrid era well for a couple of years and have gone backwards ever since.

I'm also still unsure about Kubica. Is he still up to it? There's no sim or training that can replicate a race in those cars. I think it's awesome that he is back in F1 but Williams and himself might not fit so good.

[w00dsy]

There's no sim or training that can replicate a race in those cars.

I've never seen it, but i've often wondered if their simulators have AI.

[Duke]

Merc sandbaggers #confirmed
Fezza not even close.
Verstappen splitting the Fezza's is a big surprise.
Lando = unbelievable
But then Melbourne is a strange place.

[DexterPunk]

Urgh ...

Really hard to be excited about another season full of Hamilton wins.


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[Duke]

And introducing Daniel Avacodo :lol

[somebloke]

If Mercedes shit this in today, it’ll likely as per most seasons unfortunately now be the only race I watch.

The shadow of what F1 once was unfortunately.

[Dr. Pain]

This is F1 and it's been like this for as long as I remember (mid 1980's). One team can dominate for a number of years. But what has changed is no one can really catch up mid season as they can't test and develop like they use too and the margins are so fine now days that any gains will be smaller than before. Merc have the money and the means, it's just that the dominate driver is not very well liked. He's more polarising than anyone before him.

[DexterPunk]

Yeah I reckon that hits the nail on the head. It’s not that there hasn’t always been the dominant teams. But Hamilton is just a compete tosser.

They just had an interview with Dan followed by Lewis. The difference between the two is just chalk and cheese. Dan seems to understand how lucky he is to drive a car for a living. Lewis isn’t sure his time spent talking to those lower than his highness is worth his while.


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[DarrenM]