THERE is great excitement ‘Down Under’ for the first grand prix of the year.
This year there will be more cars on the grid, with 22 entries comprising two cars per team.
The two additions this season are Renault, who have taken the place of Lotus, and the new American Haas team, powered by Ferrari.
The teams are much as before: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at Mercedes; Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari; Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso at McLaren Honda; Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat at Red Bull Renault; Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr at Sauber Ferrari; Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr at Toro Rosso; Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas at Williams Mercedes.
Some of the comments off the net include …
Alan Jones says that Ricciardo should replace Raikkonen at Ferrari.
Williams chief test engineer Rod Nelson thinks Williams will beat Ferrari and give Merc a hard time.
Claire Williams (deputy principal) is more conservative, saying ‘we have found more downforce on the new car as well as it being quicker on the straights, but I expect tough competition from Merc and Ferrari’.
VW’s Wolfgang Durheimer and Audi’s Stefan Knirsch have dismissed any interest in Formula One for Audi at the moment, saying they would prefer to stay in the World Endurance Championship.
My own comments are that beside the top three above being the expected front runners, I anticipate good challenges from the two Red Bulls as well as the hard charging youngsters at Toro Rosso, and a good showing from Force India.
The biggest unknown and disappointment of last year is the new McLaren Honda. Let us really hope that the two world championship drivers Alonso and Button are able to lift this great team back to where it should be!
Other news is that BBC have lost the broadcast contract which is now courtesy of the new Channel Four team of Mark Webber, Alain Prost and Murray Walker.
There are a few changes in the regulations with the big ones coming in 2017.
Tyre selection however will be much broader this year.
We should be in for a fascinating race on Sunday and learn where the true form really lies.
Saturday Qualifying at 7.50am on SS6. Sunday’s race at 6.30am on SS6.
