Australia Gran Prix Preview

Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne, Australia

General

Race laps: 58

Chassis: T128-01 / T128-03

Quick description

High average speed and medium-high for brake severity

Smooth surface in general and low grip (especially in P1)

Some bumps may worsen braking instability and bottoming, particularly T9

Kerbs not a problem

Difficult to overtake

17:00 race start can create vision difficulties with sunset

Usually dusty with leaves being stuck in radiator inlets

Circuit particularity

Bumpiness: Medium

Engine severity: High

Overtaking chance: Low

GBX severity: Medium

Kerbs: Smooth/medium

Lat/Long grip: Lateral

RH setting particularity: None

Aero eff ratio: Medium

Track grip evo during WE: High (not permanent)

Aero settings: High

Brake wear severity: High

Brake cooling necessity: Medium/Low

Safety car history

2010: L1 to L4

2009: L19 to L25

2008: None

Team Lotus Partner Information

Number of tyres Pirelli brings to each race: 1,800

Tony Fernandes, Team Principal: "I cannot wait to get back to racing. This is a very important season for Team Lotus as we are no longer a new team - we achieved what we set out to in 2010 but now it's effectively a clean sheet - an entirely new car, a fully fledged race team and factory and much higher aspirations. Now comes the next phase of the hard work - time to prove that our pre-season promise can help us take the next step forward in the amazing story that is Team Lotus."

Heikki Kovalainen on the race weekend: "As Melbourne is now the start of the season it will be very exciting. The Australian fans are great people and the city always has a carnival atmosphere because the race is right in the middle of town. The track itself is a semi-street circuit so it's tricky. It evolves a lot throughout the weekend as the rubber builds up and traction and grip improves. On Friday morning it's always very slippery and you need to bear that in mind when you're setting the car up. If you have some balance problems in the first session it's better not to worry about it too much as you just need to get a feel for the downforce levels, gear ratios and the tyres. By the third session on Saturday morning the track really starts to come into its own. In qualifying it improves every lap and the grip level gets better as people put more rubber down - it can be hard on the tyres as well so you need to look after them. It's a difficult track to overtake on and whether we get an opportunity to make the moveable wing really work for us there is still open to question. Whatever happens I'm really excited about getting back to racing and with the steps forward we have taken this year I think we're going to have a really good year."

Jarno Trulli on the DRS (Drag Reduction System, aka the moveable rear wing): "People sometimes ask me what the acceleration of a Formula One car is like, and the only way I can describe it is that it's like driving a rocket - now we have a rocket that suddenly takes another leap forward when it's already at full speed! It was a strange feeling the first time we used the moveable rear wing, because you suddenly have about 15% less drag and therefore a lot more speed. The more you use the wing the more you get used to it and its effect on the car's behaviour. We can use it wherever we like in practice and qualifying but in the races it'll only be when we're within one second of the car ahead and in the designated area so I think it will have a big part to play strategically. We'll see how it improves the actual racing, but I hope it will make a difference."