Australian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - McLAREN F1 TEAM

Fernando Alonso - "Finally, time to go racing! This isn’t my first time racing this year of course – I’ve already done a 24-hour race in Daytona and have a very busy season ahead of me – but I’m really excited about getting behind the wheel of the MCL33 for the first grand prix of the year.

    Our car showed a lot of potential in winter testing and, although we know we still have a lot to work on, we’ve already learned a lot about the package and how all the new elements to this year’s car work together. Australia is its first real test, and we need to work hard all weekend to bring all the ingredients together.

    Nobody can ever predict how other teams will perform at the first race of the season and that all contributes to the excitement. Melbourne is a great track and, after what feels like a long winter, I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do.”

Stoffel Vandoorne - “Melbourne is a really cool season opener. The first race coincides with my birthday, and I’ve got great memories from last year as it was my first grand prix for the team as race driver. Now that I’ve got my first full season under my belt, I’m heading to Australia feeling confident, relaxed and refreshed, and I can’t wait to go racing again.

    I’ve been working hard all winter on my training and spending a lot of time with the engineers back at the factory to prepare for this year. Although the regulations have stayed relatively stable, there’s still a lot to learn and our package in particular is very different from last year. It’ll also be interesting to see both the drivers’ and fans’ reactions to the very first grand prix with the Halo.

    I’m really excited – it’s the start of a new challenge for all of us. I’m keen to maximize all the track time we have on Friday to work on set-up to suit the circuit conditions and prep for the weekend ahead. We won’t be getting carried away as we don’t yet know for sure where we stand compared to the other teams, but now the winter is over we all can’t wait to get started with F1 2018.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Australian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - RED BULL TORO ROSSO HONDA

Pierre Gasly - “I am very excited to get to Australia because it is the first race of the year but it is also the beginning of my first full season in Formula 1. It will definitely be a special weekend for me and I’m really looking forward to it! I’ve been there as a reserve driver for Red Bull Racing a couple of years ago, but this will be the first time that I finally race there - a new track for me, which is always very exciting. The first time I went to Australia I came back home and I told my parents that if one day something happens and for any reason I need to change goals and move from France, I would go and live there because I fell in love with Melbourne! The people are so friendly, helpful and they are smiling all of the time. When I was there the weather was great and the city was amazing, so it was a pretty good first impression of the country - it’s a place I really like!”

Brendon Hartley - “Thinking about Australia it’s probably the race I’m looking forward to the most. It’s the first race of the season and it’s been a few months since all of us got to take the race start, so there’s a lot of adrenaline and excitement. Also, it will almost feel like a home race for me. There’s clearly a big difference between Australia and New Zealand, anytime you talk to an Aussie or a Kiwi you learn that pretty quickly! When I was back home in New Zealand, every second or third person I spoke to said they were coming to Australia, so I’m hoping to see a few Kiwi flags around which will be quite a special moment for me!  Some of my very good friends are Aussies - we always have this rivalry, especially in sport - but I find that when we’re away from Australia or New Zealand and come across each other in Europe we always have a lot in common and get along very well, so the rivalry isn’t as bad as people might think.”

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Australian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SAHARA FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM

Sergio Perez - “The race in Melbourne is something I look forward to all winter. It’s a really cool place to start the season. I love the city and it’s probably one of my favourite places to visit.

    You always arrive in Melbourne full of hope. There are lots of unanswered questions and it’s when you really start to understand your competitiveness. At the same time, it’s not a typical race because it’s usually quite unpredictable. Often, just finishing the race is the key to getting a good result.

    I feel in good shape and ready for the season to start. I want this to be my best year in Formula 1 and I want to be back on the podium. During testing we saw that all the midfield teams are quite close together in terms of performance. I also think the gap to the front of the grid is smaller. Let’s see what happens."

Esteban Ocon - “It has been a long winter with a two-month training camp for me in the Pyrenees, but hopefully all the hard work will pay off now the racing is starting. I can honestly say I’m in the best shape of my life. I feel ready to go racing again. Testing is one thing, but now we will get the real answers in terms of our performance.

    Melbourne is a fantastic place. I think everybody in the team enjoys going there. The weather is usually nice and there’s extra excitement because it’s the start of the season. The atmosphere is brilliant all weekend and the fans give you lots of energy. I think it’s a perfect place to start the season.

    I’d like to think we can fight for points in Melbourne. We had a really solid second week of testing in Barcelona. I feel comfortable in the car and it’s very consistent. We have new parts coming for the race so hopefully that’s another performance step.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Australian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING

Lance Stroll - "Australia is always a good Grand Prix and I am looking forward to getting back there. It is the start of the season, there is always a great atmosphere, the fans really get into it and you are right there in Melbourne. I shall be excited to turn up. The track itself is bumpy and technical, as well as being narrow, but it is a pleasure to drive and I think we all enjoy going there."

Sergey Sirotkin - "It’s the Australian Grand Prix – it’s my first race in Formula One, my first race with Williams, and my first race in Australia. It’s very exciting and I’m really looking forward to getting there, to start work and to get closer to the lights going out. Looking back at my career, I have always been a racing guy and I’ve always liked the competition, pushing the limits of myself as well as the limits of others. To win in this environment is the biggest dream you can imagine, so I’m really looking forward to this challenge, to put more pressure on myself and to deliver. It’s going to be interesting!"

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Australian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - ALFA ROMEO SAUBER F1 TEAM

Marcus Ericsson - “We are ready and looking forward to the first Grand Prix. It is always exciting to kick off the season in such a fantastic location, and on a track that is fun to drive. I am looking forward to seeing our new car on track for the full race weekend for the first time.

    Winter testing was useful in terms of gaining a general understanding of the car’s behaviour and potential. Now, we are moving to the next step when we will start to understand where we are in relation to our competitors. I look forward to it all and can’t wait to be back on track in Albert Park.”

Charles Leclerc - “The first race of a season is always exciting for a driver, but this being the first Formula 1 Grand Prix of my career makes the occasion even more special. Driving on the circuit in Albert Park will be a new experience for me, and I look forward to the challenge. With it being the opening race of the season, you can really feel the excitement and energy there.

    Over the past weeks, I have got to know the team well, learned all of the relevant procedures, and was able to get a first impression of the new C37 during winter testing. I am eager to now spend a full race weekend in the car and work with the team to understand how we can maximize our potential."

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Australian GP: Circuit Preview

AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2018 - CIRCUIT PREVIEW

Name: Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit

Location: Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia

Opened: November 20th, 1953

Length: 3.296 Miles

Capacity: 80,000

Runs: Clockwise

Turns: 16

Race Laps: 58

2017 RACE STATS:

Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton

1st Place: Sebastian Vettel

2nd Place: Lewis Hamilton

3rd Place: Valtteri Bottas

Retirements: Romain Grosjean (Water Leak), Jolyon Palmer (Brakes), Marcus Ericsson (Hydraulics), Daniel Ricciardo (Fuel Cell), Lance Stroll (Brakes), Kevin Magnussen (Suspension) & Fernando Alonso (Floor Damage)

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Australian GP: Track Schedule

AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2018 - TRACK SCHEDULE 

March 22nd / Thursday

09:00 - 10:20 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

14:00 - 14:30 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

14:25 - 14:40 - Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes (TBC)

15:00 - 16:00 - Drivers Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

19:15 - 19:45 - Track Tour (F1 Experience - F1 Experience Guests Only)

March 23rd / Friday

10:05 - 10:35 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

11:30 - 11:45 - Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes (TBC)

12:00 - 13:30 - Free Practice #1

14:00 - 15:00 - Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

14:25 - 14:55 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

15:30 - 15:40 - RAAF F/A Jet Reconnaissance Flight (TBC)

16:00 - 17:30 - Free Practice #2

March 24th / Saturday

11:20 - 11:50 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

11:20 - 12:00 - Team Pit-Stop Practice

13:20 - 13:35 - RAAF Roulettes (TBC)

14:00 - 15:00 - Free Practice #3

16:00 - 16:40 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

16:30 - 16:40 - RAAF F/A18 Jet (TBC)

17:00 - 18:00 - Qualifying

March 25th / Sunday

12:30 - 13:00 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

14:35 - 14:40 - 2018 F1 Drivers Photograph (Starting Grid)

14:40 - 14:50 - Drivers Track Parade

14:40 - 15:10 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

14:45 - 15:00 - RAAF Roulettes (TBC)

15:56 - 15:58 - National Anthem

15:58 - 16:05 - RAAF C-17 Globemaster Fly-Over (TBC)

16:10 - 18:10 - Race

* - Subject to change

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Pre-Season Test #2 - Day #4 - RE-CAP & TIMES

PRE-SEASON TEST #2 - DAY #4 - RE-CAP  & TIMES

    The last day of pre-season testing saw Kimi Raikkonen secure the fastest time of the session. The Ferrari driver, having fully recovered after suffering from illness a few days prior, put in a 1:17.221 and completed a total of 157 laps.

    Close behind was Fernando Alonso with a 1:17.784. McLaren had more mechanical issues in the morning part of the session, but Alonso was able to round up 93 laps and and hold on to that second quickest time.

    Sainz rounded up the top 3 with an impressive 1:18.092 in the Renault, while Daniel Ricciardo and Romain Grosjean completed the top 5.

    Charles Leclerc, running in the Sauber, finished 9th with a 1:19.118 but had a small incident in which he slid off track and hit the barriers near Turn 11. However, he still completed 75 laps during the session. The next time he gets in the car will be for the first free practice session of the first F1 weekend of 2018.

TIMES:

1. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:17.221 / Ferrari-Ferrari / 157 Laps

2. Fernando Alonso - 1:17.784 / McLaren-Renault / 93 Laps

3. Carlos Sainz - 1:18.092 / Renault-Renault / 45 Laps

4. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:18.327 / Red Bull Racing-TAG-Heuer / 92 Laps

5. Romain Grosjean - 1:18.412 / Haas-Ferrari / 181 Laps

6. Valtteri Bottas (PM) - 1:18.825 / Mercedes-Mercedes / 104 Laps

7. Brendon Hartley - 1:18.949 / Scuderia Toro Rosso-Honda / 156 Laps

8. Esteban Ocon - 1:18.967 / Force India-Mercedes / 163 Laps

9. Charles Leclerc - 1:19.118 / Sauber-Ferrari / 75 Laps

10. Sergey Sirotkin (AM) - 1:19.189 / Williams-Mercedes / 105 Laps

11. Lewis Hamilton (AM) - 1:19.464 / Mercedes-Mercedes / 97 Laps

12. Lance Stroll (PM) - 1:19.954 / Williams-Mercedes / 27 Laps

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Pre-Season Test #2 - Day #4 - LINE-UP

PRE-SEASON TEST #2 - DAY #4 - LINE-UP

Test Location: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya - Montmelo, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

MERCEDES-MERCEDES: Lewis Hamilton (AM) / Valtteri Bottas (PM)

FERRARI-FERRARI: Kimi Raikkonen

RED BULL RACING-TAG-HEUER: Daniel Ricciardo

RENAULT-RENAULT: Carlos Sainz (AM) / Nico Hulkenberg (PM)

FORCE INDIA-MERCEDES: Esteban Ocon

WILLIAMS-MERCEDES: Sergey Sirotkin (AM) / Lance Stroll (PM)

SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO-HONDA: Brendon Hartley

HAAS-FERRARI: Romain Grosjean 
McLAREN-RENAULT: Fernando Alonso 

SAUBER-FERRARI: Charles Leclerc

*Subject to change

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Pre-Season Test #2 - Day #3 - RE-CAP & TIMES

PRE-SEASON TEST #2 - DAY #3 - RE-CAP & TIMES

    The third day of testing saw Sebastian Vettel climb to the top of the time-sheets with an impressive 1:17.182 and also a total of 188 laps. 

    The top three all completed over 100 laps. Second fastest, Kevin Magnussen, in the Haas, completed 153 while Pierre Gasly, entering his first full year of Formula 1 with Toro Rosso, did a total of 169 laps.

    Stoffel Vandoorne finished just outside the top 5 for McLaren with a 1:18.855 and gathered a total of 151 laps.

    The two Mercedes drivers were also not in the top 5 this time around. Lewis Hamilton, who drove in the afternoon portion of the day, finished in 8th with a 1:19.296, just ahead of his team-mate. Bottas, who drove in the morning was close behind in 9th with a 1:19.532.

    Renault saw both drivers finish higher up in the times than Mercedes. Sainz and Hulkenberg, who were also splitting driving duties for the day, finished in the top 5. Hulkenberg did a total of 79 laps and completed a fastest time of 1:18.675 while Sainz did a 1:18.725 and racked up 69 laps for the team.

    Friday is the last day of Pre-Season testing ahead of the season opener in Melbourne, Australia.

TIMES:

1. Sebastian Vettel - 1:17.182 / Ferrari-Ferrari / 188 Laps

2. Kevin Magnussen - 1:18.360 / Haas-Ferrari / 153 Laps

3. Pierre Gasly - 1:18.363 / Scuderia Toro Rosso-Honda / 169 Laps

4. Nico Hulkenberg (AM) - 1:18.675 / Renault-Renault / 79 Laps

5. Carlos Sainz (PM) - 1:18.725 / Renault-Renault / 69 Laps

6. Stoffel Vandoorne - 1:18.855 / McLaren-Renault / 151 Laps

7. Marcus Ericsson - 1:19.244 / Sauber-Ferrari / 148 Laps

8. Lewis Hamilton (PM) - 1:19.296 / Mercedes-Mercedes / 84 Laps

9. Valtteri Bottas (AM) - 1:19.532 / Mercedes-Mercedes / 97 Laps

10. Robert Kubica (AM) - 1:19.629 / Williams-Mercedes / 73 Laps

11. Sergio Perez - 1:19.634 / Force India-Mercedes / 159 Laps

12. Max Verstappen - 1:19.842 / Red Bull Racing-TAG-Heuer / 187 Laps

13. Lance Stroll (PM) - 1:20.262 / Williams-Mercedes / 67 Laps

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