58 laps of the 5.278-kilometre Albert Park Circuit 22nd March Practice 1 01:30 - 02:30 22nd March Practice 2 05:00 - 06:00 23rd March Practice 3 01:30 - 02:30 23rd March Qualifying 05:00 - 06:00 24th March Race 04:00 - 06:00 All times are UK times Poll closes before Quali.
I might watch FP1 and 3 as they are not too bad time wise but will probably just watch the C4 highlights. I am voting for who I would like to win.
fp2 times are well off last years quali the track will evolve massively imo. I note the c5 tyre is the soft so thst should be quick but useless for the race. the hard is the c3 so that again is a medium on some tracks so we might see 2 stops if lucky. I don't see any massive track changes? I don't know so while there's drs the cars need space to use it
FP2 fastest last year: Alonso 1:18.887 FP3: Verstappen 1:17.565 Quali: Verstappen 1:16.732 (russell did 1:16.968) This year FP1 norris 1:18.564 FP2 Le Clerc 1:17.277 Kind of hints that they are faster or contidtions are better than last year so far. IN the long runs in FRP all the cars trundeld round in 1:23s but perez and leclerc were in 1:22s as well. Overall I expect this will be decided again by tyre wear and quali. over the long runs theres not much evidence to say things won't be different form the las toutings. they run higher DF here but its still quick so the cornering at speed will do for the tyres. They have also gone for softer variants. After that who knows. Can leclerc or sainz get pole? we know verstappen is a bit behind again in practice trim.
Verstappen will get progressively quicker here but Le Clerc looked really hooked up, similar to 2022. I understand his longer run data was also solid? Might be a weekend where there’s some fight, and boy do we need it. Let’s see where we are with the engines up tomorrow but I think if Sainz can get stronger too, Ferrari can at least be P2/3 if not CLC stealing pole. Race you always fear Red Bull but I thought Charles looked beautiful in S1 and the final two corners and that’s massive here because even if he was behind those strengths will keep him in DRS zones. Would be delighted to see Ferrari challenge here.
All the teams long runs appeared very close. FP2 was shorter for verstappen but perez was right on it but there wasn't much between him and le clerc or the others. thats what the data says cos I was not getting up for it and am in work skiving looking at data rather than work! The general trend is 0.3seconds fast than last season so it'll be interesting to see if a 1:16.5 takes pole as well. Its all about tyre wear maybe. I don't know.
please log in to view this image https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/2658...on-from-ferrari-and-mclaren-in-long-runs.html This is long times and read it as 1:24.5 for verstappen lap 1 and he did 4 laps. we can see perez times start to drop off after 6/7 laps where as all 6 of leclercs were consistent. sainz was alright too but lap 6 was in to the 1:23.8s. Mclarens look good all through. very consistent times on the tyre again about 8 laps into the medium the pace drops a bit. does this mean red bull are goosed? no. we don't know what anyone was carrying as fuel or power setting etc.
Williams don’t have a spare chassis . So they have asked / told Logan to stand down . Volwles says decisions made for the plan they have for the development of the team lead to spare chassis availability being pushed back . Vowles said the team / drivers fans & and everyone has been let down , and it’s a situation he never wants to see again .
Selling it like Sargeant gave up his car as a noble thing is absolute BS by Sky. He absolutely had to give up his car, and if I were Albon I'd have refused it. I'd be embarrassed I get Albon is by far the better option, but you can't punish a driver for not destroying their chassis.
the only shock is nobody else got below 1:16,0 given the times in fp3. we now have a benchmark of 0.8seconds faster than same race last year. Hamilton was whinging all weekend and said it got windy same as yesterday. le clerc had no excuse bar something didn't feel right. perez let's the cat out of the bag and says let's see who is best on deg oh great.
