The season opens
A week after the MotoGP engines started in Thailand, it’s time to get serious in Formula 1 too. As per tradition in almost all of the last thirty years of history, the championship will start this weekend on the circuit of Melbournewhere the Australian Grand Prix. A highly anticipated event not only to witness the competition on the track again, but also to see the new single-seaters outside the context of pre-season testing, with the same cars which, compared to last season, must comply with decidedly different technical regulations, with rules that are still not entirely easy to understand.
The surprise of the tests
Chassis and power units that open a new era of F1, which could turn the tables and offer surprises. Limited to the winter tests, one of the most striking situations was the Haas VF-26 powered by Ferrari, in particular for its reliability and for the total number of laps accomplished. The US team presents itself with the aim of achieving at least a top-3 finish, which has never been achieved so far in its ten-year history, with the highest point dating back to the pole position won by Kevin Magnussen in the 2022 Brazilian GP.
Team work
Big changes, therefore, but not in the team line-up, which still fields Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon. The enthusiasm for the Briton is evident, even if the 20-year-old will immediately have to pay close attention from the opening weekend, being ‘in the lead’ in the penalty points classification and 2 points away from disqualification: “Although the winter break was short, it now feels like a long time has passed since we have been anxiously waiting to see the true performance of this new generation of Formula 1 cars – he commented – it was a titanic job for the teammany have been away from home for several weeks, working at all hours and across different time zones to ensure our testing program was smooth and profitable, and for that I thank them wholeheartedly. Pre-season testing provided answers to many of our questions and, although there is still much to learn, I believe that we are working on solid foundations. I arrived in Melbourne this weekend to beat the jet lag early and also get the chance to see a bit of this amazing city. The Albert Park Circuit is a phenomenal track that will really test us all, and it is vital that we remain reliable and consistent in these first few races. Last year was a learning experience from start to finish for me, but after 12 months I feel completely ready for the weekend ahead.”
Proud of the team
Also excited for the first round of the world championship Oconwho like his teammate underlined the team’s efforts: “The first race of a new season is always an exciting moment for everyone – added the Frenchman – the months of hard work will finally be put to the test and I am personally very excited for this new challenge and to get back to racing. It was a monumental effort from the whole team to prepare the car for Fiorano, Barcelona and then Bahrain. We have had a couple of successful weeks of testing and the team can be very proud of themselves. Starting the season in Australia is always a challenge, with the long travel and time difference, but it’s a fantastic event and Melbourne is a fantastic city with incredible energy. The Albert Park track is a unique street circuit, bumpy and treacherous, which will be interesting with this new generation of cars. I can’t wait to get on track in Melbourne and see how we stack up against the competition. In a tight battle in the middle of the pack, consistency will be key, so we will try to maintain the momentum and start the season well.”
