The Official Australian Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Dr Z]

It is time.



Date(s): Friday 23 March - Sunday 25 march 2018

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1 with highlights show for qualifying and the race on Channel 4.

Session	Day	Sky F1	Channel 4	Session Start	Local Time
Practice 1	Fri	0030	-	0100	1200
Practice 2	Fri	0445	-	0500	1600
Practice 3	Sat	0245	-	0300	1400
Qualifying	Sat	0555	1300	0600	1700
Race	Sun	0605	1430	0610	1610

Note: Clocks go forward Saturday night/Sunday morning in the UK.

Albert Park, Melbourne



Live timing for all sessions available here:

http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/f1-...

Info such as lap times, PU use, technical reports, stewards decisions etc for the weekend will appear here:

https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...

Weather forecast:

http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/Australia/A...

The tyre choices:




2017 Qualifying





2017 Race






Fastest Race Lap: 1:26.538 (L56, K. Räikkönen; Ferrari)

---

Who will win it this time, and who will go on to win the big prize?

Get your predictions in.

Note: the tyre compounds are all softer than last year in a bid to encourage two or more stops, with a larger working window.

Oops, can a mod insert 2018 in the title.

Tyre working ranges:

Edited by Dr Z on Thursday 22 March 12:25

[Derek Smith]

Dr Z said:

It is time.

It's about time too.

Thanks for the post, Dr.

I know the powers that be change the regs in order to create interest for the new season, but the changes seem positive.

If I had to put my own money on the outcome of the WDC, it'd go on Hamilton but there are certain intriguing possibilities.

McL, 'my' team. Mess it up this season and I might look for another to support.

RB - more problems with the engine I'd assume, but you never know. If Renault are going for reliability (what were they going got last season?) then the chassis might make up the deficit.

Ferrari. So many promises at the beginning of the various seasons, so many reasons they did not fulfil. It'd be nice to see them come through once in a while.

Williams? More of the same I think.

The others? As with Williams I expect, but one might shine.

[The Moose]

Thanks for the thread. Looking forward to watching the opener...although I suspect it'll be a replay/extended highlights as the race starts at 1:10am...having said that, maybe an all-nighter is in order. We shall see.

Oh, do you know what the opening lyrics to the Lion King actually mean? I looked it up for something else recently.

[HustleRussell]

The Moose said:

do you know what the opening lyrics to the Lion King actually mean? I looked it up for something else recently.

[cheddar]

Thanks Dr Z, great post to start to the season

[The Moose]

HustleRussell said:

The Moose said:

do you know what the opening lyrics to the Lion King actually mean? I looked it up for something else recently.

There comes a lion.

Yep, it's a lion.

Lion.

[thegreenhell]

Don't forget that clocks go forwards an hour overnight Saturday/Sunday if you're planning to set your alarm to watch it live.

[thegreenhell]

I'm not as excited as in past years. I can't help feeling that Mercedes are going to walk it again this year. Ferrari will be strong at times, but ultimately trip over their own shoelaces. RBR will complain about their engine supplier. McLaren will make some more excuses.

Gaz. said:

Williams have shat in their hands and clapped.

[rdjohn]

I will be driving home all Saturday and Sunday. No internet when I arrive.

Does anyone know if C4 broadcast highlights at a later time / date?

[Gad-Westy]

Can’t wait but what’s with the 10 past the hour start time?

[LocoBlade]

Gad-Westy said:

Can’t wait but what’s with the 10 past the hour start time?

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/...

Get used to it, it's the new norm! Basically for the bit-part broadcasters that go on-air on the hour so they can have 10 minutes of build-up

[anonymous-user]

thegreenhell said:

I'm not as excited as in past years. I can't help feeling that Mercedes are going to walk it again this year. Ferrari will be strong at times, but ultimately trip over their own shoelaces. RBR will complain about their engine supplier. McLaren will make some more excuses.

Can’t help but think you’re about right.

[cuprabob]

rdjohn said:

I will be driving home all Saturday and Sunday. No internet when I arrive.

Does anyone know if C4 broadcast highlights at a later time / date?

You can watch on the "All 4" player.

[American iv]

LocoBlade said:

Gad-Westy said:

Can’t wait but what’s with the 10 past the hour start time?

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/...

Get used to it, it's the new norm! Basically for the bit-part broadcasters that go on-air on the hour so they can have 10 minutes of build-up

This basically says there is no market in Asia / Australia - the European races already started at 10pm on a Sunday night, now it's 11:10pm.

In Australia all races (except the Australian) are behind a paywall as well - it's hard to be a F1 fan here!

[Gad-Westy]

LocoBlade said:

Gad-Westy said:

Can’t wait but what’s with the 10 past the hour start time?

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/...

Get used to it, it's the new norm! Basically for the bit-part broadcasters that go on-air on the hour so they can have 10 minutes of build-up

cheers

[LocoBlade]

American iv said:

This basically says there is no market in Asia / Australia - the European races already started at 10pm on a Sunday night, now it's 11:10pm.

In Australia all races (except the Australian) are behind a paywall as well - it's hard to be a F1 fan here!

Yeh can't be easy, I assume because it's behind a paywall like us in the UK with Sky, you won't get the option of subscribing to the online streaming service either?

[American iv]

LocoBlade said:

American iv said:

This basically says there is no market in Asia / Australia - the European races already started at 10pm on a Sunday night, now it's 11:10pm.

In Australia all races (except the Australian) are behind a paywall as well - it's hard to be a F1 fan here!

Yeh can't be easy, I assume because it's behind a paywall like us in the UK with Sky, you won't get the option of subscribing to the online streaming service either?

Nope, we don't get the Liberty Media streaming service but Foxtel, equivalent of Sky & uses their broadcast, has a semi-reasonable A$39 a month (21GBP) plan at the moment which includes shows + sport so it's hard to complain about the cost but pointless if you're in bed before they start

I loved Liberty Media's F1 Youtube reviews last year - I'd watch them first thing in the morning before any news so I'm hoping they keep that style and not the ones from practice.

[jules c]

Any body heard when Liberty will release the F1 TV on line streaming service? ( I know you don't get it in the UK but for us internationally based brits....)

I've registered interest on the formula 1 TV website but heard squat

https://www.formula1.com/en/subscribe/f1-tv-regist...

[Bradgate]

I have my fingers crossed hoping for a properly competitive season, but it is just a hope, not an expectation.

Mercedes’ race simulations in testing were hugely impressive, and suggest they may have plenty in hand over the field. The fact that they didn’t even try to demonstrate their single-lap pace suggests they are very, very confident.

Predictions? I’m sticking my neck out....
Driver’s championship : Hamilton.
Constructor’s championship: Mercedes, by a distance.
Over-achievers - Toro Rosso Honda
Under-achievers - McLaren, for the fourth consecutive year.

[anonymous-user]

Bradgate said:

I have my fingers crossed hoping for a properly competitive season, but it is just a hope, not an expectation.

Mercedes’ race simulations in testing were hugely impressive, and suggest they may have plenty in hand over the field. The fact that they didn’t even try to demonstrate their single-lap pace suggests they are very, very confident.

Predictions? I’m sticking my neck out....
Driver’s championship : Hamilton.
Constructor’s championship: Mercedes, by a distance.
Over-achievers - Toro Rosso Honda
Under-achievers - McLaren, for the fourth consecutive year.

In what way are you ‘sticking your neck out’?