F1 | Australian Grand Prix organisers reveal changes to Albert Park; Ricciardo pretty confident of closer racing
A series of changes to the Albert Park venue should see qualifying times drop by around five seconds, as well as trying to improve the spectacle.
The Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne is going to look quite different this year as a number of changes are taking place to try and improve the racing around the street circuit in the years to come. You can view photos of the work happening on Speedcafe and AutoAction.
The changes in full
- Turn 1 widened by 2.5m
- Turn 3 widened by 4m
- Turn 6 widened by 7.5m; drivers expected to go 70km/h quicker with the change
- A complete removal of the turn 9 chicane; a potential fourth DRS zone could be added in on the back straight
- Turn 13: corner entry straightened and widened by 3.5m
- Turn 15 widened by 3.5m
- Circuit likely to be 14 turns following the changes, down from 16.
- Track length will fall from 5.259 km to 5.231 km.
These changes to the road course should see times drop into 1:15s come qualifying, according to the organisers. The qualifying record on the now old configuration is a 1:20.486 by Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes two years ago.
- Average qualifying speed increases from 236km/h to 251km/h
- The simulated top qualifying speed is approximately 330 km/h into the current Turn 11 (assuming the fourth DRS zone is ratified).
Australian GP Corporation CEO, Andrew Westacott expects the November event to be ‘’better than ever.’’
“These circuit modifications mean faster racing with plenty of new opportunities to battle it out – come November, the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix will be back and better than ever,” said Westacott.
“Since the 1950s Albert Park has been synonymous with grand prix racing with these upgrades aligning perfectly with the changes in specifications of the Formula 1 cars in 2022.
“While the project will make for more exciting racing, it also enhances the roads and surrounding facilities for community use beyond the event for years to come.”
Hard at work making changes to the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit 👷
— F1 Australian Grand Prix (@ausgrandprix) April 1, 2021
The iconic #F1 track is going to have a fresh new look in 2021 👍#AusGP pic.twitter.com/agfd8WCdZM
Home hero Daniel Ricciardo added: “Sundays and making race days more exciting for everyone, that’s what we all want and I think these changes are in the direction of what we want. Better races, more battles – the changes are going to push us towards that.
“With these (2021) cars the changes should help a lot, but from 2022, if next year promises everything it does with being able to follow the car in front and the racing to be enhanced, then coming to a circuit like Albert Park with these changes should make a pretty amazing spectacle.
“I see all of these changes as beneficial for Sunday and we can have some fun on the brakes. It’ll make the racing closer, I’m pretty confident of that.”
A new era for the @ausgrandprix! 🎉
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 1, 2021
Wider, flowing corners and a new lease of life for the Albert Park Circuit, ahead of its 2021 return 🏗#F1 pic.twitter.com/Mr8Tk6xScs
