Red Bull is the clear favorite to win the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, as they have won the previous two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The team is looking to secure another first and second place finish at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, where over 400,000 spectators are expected to attend. Red Bull’s car is the fastest and most competitive, leaving other teams like Aston Martin, Mercedes, and Ferrari to fight for scraps.
This race is crucial for Red Bull as it precedes a four-week break due to the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix. Red Bull has a great opportunity to establish a significant lead over their competitors, who are hoping to use the break to improve their cars and reduce the gap.
Red Bull’s two-time world champion, Max Verstappen, is in better condition than the previous race in Saudi Arabia, where he suffered from stomach problems. Despite starting from 15th place on the grid due to a transmission issue during the qualifying session, Verstappen managed to secure second place. He hopes to recover fully during the break after Australia.
Verstappen has never won in Melbourne and only achieved a second-place finish in 2019. Last year, he had to retire due to his car’s engine catching fire. Nonetheless, he is looking forward to returning to the circuit and hopes for a great race.
Red Bull’s main competitors are approaching the Grand Prix differently. Aston Martin is trying to confirm their good start to the season, where they finished in second place behind Red Bull twice, thanks to the veteran driver, Fernando Alonso. Mercedes is hoping to continue their progress from the previous race, where they scored good points and learned more about their car’s performance. Ferrari is looking to improve after a forgettable start to the season.
The FIA also announced that the grid spots will be widened by 20 centimeters following controversies surrounding penalties given to Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso in the first two races of the season for poor starting positions.