“Albert Park may not have an abundance of long straights, but it is still a stern test of an engine’s performance.
It is a short, sharp run from the starting grid to the first corner, with drivers braking hard to negotiate the tight and often actionpacked first corner. The circuit contains a mix of slow to medium speed corners, interlinked with short straights, which presents a challenge for engine cooling due to the reduced air flow at slow speeds. The fastest corners on the track can be found through turns 11 and 12 before the final series of tricky corners that lead back onto the main straight. Although around two-thirds of the lap is spent at full throttle, the engine’s outright power is not as important as the torque required to quickly transition out of the slow-medium speed corners.
Melbourne’s weather conditions are notoriously variable, but ambient temperatures of around 25˚C are usual, a more comfortable level for engines. The street nature of the circuit means it is quite “green” at the start of the weekend and “rubbers in” over the three days. This year’s heavier fuel loads will place even more of a strain on the brakes and drivetrain, exacerbating the problems caused by the relatively low levels of grip.”