| Albert Park replaced Adelaide as Australia's F1 venue in
1996 despite fierce protests from environmentalists who
were worried about the impact a Grand Prix would have on
the surrounding parkland.
Additionally, whereas the Adelaide event had brought
the F1 season to a close, Melbourne is now the opening
round of the championship.
At 3.3 miles, Albert Park is one of the longer circuits
on the calendar, however don't expect much overtaking. The
best opportunity for overtaking is at the end of the pit
straight.
The nature of the track - lots of corners, with few
long straights - means that drivers opt for quite a high
level of downforce, with tyre degradation being another
significant factor.
Giancarlo Fisichella describes a lap of the
Melbourne circuit:
"In qualifying I approach turns 1 & 2 (Brabham
Stand) at over 185 mph (300 kph) and have to brake
very hard (over 4g) down to 75 mph (120 kph) in 2nd gear.
I then accelerate along Aughtie Drive up to turn
3, a tight right-hander which forms part of a complex of 3
corners (turns 3,4 & 5) taken respectively in 1st, 3rd
and 4th gears. It's important to get a smooth rhythm
through this section so as to maintain speed for a good
exit.
I then accelerate to Turn 6 reaching around 175
mph (280 kph) in 5th gear before dropping down to 2nd gear
for this right-hand corner. Then the long sweeping
right-hand turn 8 (Lauda Stand) which I take flat,
leads to turn 9 (Clark Stand) where I need to brake
heavily down to 60 mph (100 kph) in 2nd gear.
Another long sweeping curve (Turn 10) leads to
turns 11 and 12 (Waite Stand) which form one of the
most challenging parts of the circuit as I have to take
them in 5th gear at just under 125 mph (200 kph). You need
good high speed stability and change of direction for
these two corners. Leading up to turn 13 (Ascari Stand)
the car reaches nearly 185 mph (300 kph) before I brake
hard again to 2nd gear to take the corner at around 70mph
(115 kph).
There is then a short straight that leads to turn 14 (Stewart
Stand) where I reach 4th gear and hold it throughout
the 110 mph (180 kph) turn. Very shortly after this turn I
brake down to the slowest corner, turn 15 (Prost Stand)
which is taken at around 45 mph (70 kph) in 1st gear.
This is very quickly followed by the 100 mph (160 kph)
3rd gear final corner (Turn 16) which leads back on
to the pit straight."
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