Formula One returns to Australia for first time in three years, with revamped track and huge spectator numbers
- Defending champion Max Verstappen said he is pleased to be back in Australia after the 2020 and 2021 GPs were cancelled due to Covid-19
- Lewis Hamilton has raced 13 times in Australia and won the event in 2008 and 2015
Formula One returns to Australia for the first time in three years on Sunday and Daniel Ricciardo hopes the break – and track renovations he had a say in determining – will help turn around his fortunes on his home circuit.
McLaren driver Ricciardo and his F1 rivals are preparing for a new Albert Park layout at the Australian Grand Prix – they will not drive on the redesigned, resurfaced circuit until Friday’s two practice sessions ahead of qualifying Saturday.
The Australian driver’s input resulted two corners being removed and five others widened in a bid to offer more overtaking opportunity on the circuit.
“Not taking credit, but I was a little bit involved in the talks about revamping the circuit a few years ago when they had the first idea of what to do to try to make the racing a bit better,” Ricciardo said.
“It has always been a fun track but on Sundays it has been a little bit tricky for overtaking just through the layout and the nature of it. As a race now you’re going to see a totally different Sunday here in Melbourne.”
Defending F1 series champion Max Verstappen, who won the second race of the season in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago, said he is pleased to be back in Australia after the 2020 and 2021 GPs were cancelled due to Covid-19.
“It’s been a while … the atmosphere is always so good there too,” Verstappen said Thursday. “It will be interesting to see the track updates, I think they will make quite a big difference, especially in Turn Six where the most significant change has happened. There should be more overtaking opportunities now, too, which is always positive.”