Is there a chance to top the breathtaking previous season that went down to the wire? The protagonists are prepared and experts expect the usual suspects to rival for the title in 2013. McLaren, Lotus (Renault), Mercedes and Sauber are the teams that are expected to join the battle.
What has it been for the Scuderia Down Under ever since? Let us sneak through our database –to be found under “Race Results” filed under “Community”- and remember some facts.
The upcoming Grand Prix should be –if everybody counted right- the 78th Australian Grand Prix. The first GP took place in 1928 but it was no earlier than 1985 that the Australian Grand Prix became a fixed date within the Formula 1 season. The races until 1995 took place at the Adelaide Street Circuit before the race was moved to the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne where the race usually is the first race of the season.
Adelaide might be well remembered to have hosted the shortest Grand Prix ever. Because of heavy rain the rain was stopped after 24 minutes or 14 laps. Morbidelli (#130) had an accident and Alesi (#129) finished on 6th position.
Michael Schumacher is still holding the lap record for a lap during the race (1:24,125 with F2004 #234). For the records, the fastest lap (1:23,529) during qualifying was achieved by Vettel in 2011.
Michael Schumacher is the driver with most victories in Australia, achieved from 2000 to 2004,except in 2003, (#200, #208, #214 and #234). The first F1 victory for the Scuderia was achieved by Gerhard Berger in 1987 with #097, followed by Eddie Irvine’s win in 1999 on #191. Kimi Räikkönen was the last driver for the Scuderia to achieve a victory in Australia in 2007 (#261). Berger, Schumacher (2001 and 2004) and Räikkönen took their victories from pole position. The Scuderia achieved a total of 6 pole position Down Under, only Barrichello (accident with #216 in 2002) and Schumacher in 2003 (4th) did not win from pole position.
Massa’s personal Melbourne-history can only be called mixed. He didn’t finish the race for times (2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011). His best result was a 3rd place in 2010 on #281. Alonso’s results are very stable since his first race for the Scuderia in 2010 achieving two 4th positions and a 5th place last year.
Any predictions based on these figures? Enjoy the start of the 2013 season.