Rolex Australian Grand Prix Preview

After tests in Jerez and Bahrain, early indications are that Renault engine powered teams have some work still to do, but most teams have had issues of one sort or another.

The first race in Melbourne may give us fans some clues, and the teams some idea on how far ahead of or behind their rivals they are.

Here, I preview the race, and try and highlight some of the issues teams are having and the major changes for 2014.

Laser cut circuit by Graham & Leigh www.grahamandleigh.co.uk

Albert Park, Melbourne The Facts

Lap length – 5.303km (3.295 miles)

Race laps – 58

Lap record – 1.24.125 by Michael Schumacher in 2004.

2013 Race Winner – Kimi Räikkönen – Lotus Renault

Race Date – 16th March 2014

DRS Zones (Race) – first and second straight

Distance from grid to turn 1 – 380m

Total race distance – 307.574km (191.118 miles)

The Circuit

This is a high speed circuit with medium to high brake severity; in general the track surface is bumpier than a purpose built track, with smooth kerbs and low grip, especially in Free Practice 1 before the cars clean up the track. Some bumps may cause braking issues, particularly in Turn 9. This is a circuit where it is very difficult to overtake, even using DRS.

Several challenges face the teams with the new 2014 Regulations, the high number of low speed turns, the short burst of acceleration between turns and heavy braking required on the circuit will give opportunities for the MGU-K to recovery energy, particularly in Turns 3 and 4 and 14, 15 and 16, where energy recovery is crucial to minimise the lap time, fuel consumption is likely to be the second highest of the year and the new cars face a considerable challenge in Melbourne.

Pre-Season Testing at Jerez & Bahrain has certainly been the most highly anticipated for a number of years, particularly with the considerable changes to the 2014 Regulations and the disappearance of the V8 engine. Williams and Mercedes finished the testing ahead of the pack with Felipe Massa clocking the fastest time of the second Bahrain session. Felipe clocked 202 laps in total, the Mercedes powered cars dominated both time sheet and put in the most laps, with Williams, Force India and McLaren all performing well, whilst Redbull and particularly Lotus, who missed the opening Jerez test, start the season on the back foot.

Ferrari managed nearly 4500km in pre season testing, but do not look to have the pace of the Mercedes cars, but never write off the Scuderia, who believe that there is still considerable potential from the F14T car. The teams in general appear to be struggling as to how they can manage the balance between electrical power, the ERS and the battery in order to maximise horsepower.

Force India are fairly bullish about their prospects for 2014 with Team Principal Doctor Vijay Mallya confident that the team can figure in the top half of the field in the forthcoming season, whilst Williams have set out their stall, confirming that they are looking to score points in all races.

The saddest news in the close season came when it was announced that 7 times world champion Michael Schumacher had suffered head injuries in a skiing accident in December and, as at today, he remains in a coma, induced by the medical team who are hopeful that they can slowly awake the former Formula One driver. After consultation with Michael Schumacher's family, the Bahrain International Circuit has announced that the first corner of the track is to be named after the former Champion who won the first Bahrain Grand Prix in 2004 and helped to design the circuit. We certainly wish Michael well.

So several questions need to be answered in Australia, have Renault sorted out their technical issues? Will the lack of testing by Lotus leave them trailing at the back of the field? Can the initial promise shown by Force India result in podiums? And will the Pirelli medium/soft compound confirmed for Australia, Bahrain and China and the hard and medium compounds in Malaysia last the pace of the new car.

Quick Round Up of Pre-Season Testing in Bahrain

Red Bull

Red Bull continue to try different aero packages in Bahrain and, in particular, to try and cool the overheating issues from the bottom on the engine. Expect a new aero package for Australia and a modified exhaust pipe. Sebastian Vettel suffered front end mechanical problems in Bahrain, possibly braking. Red Bull continued at Bahrain with 2 days filming in the RB10 and RB8, much needed track time.

Mercedes

Different aero packages have been used by the team over the Jerez and Bahrain tests, they have also experimented with single and dual pillars to the rear wing and introduced a new T splitter under the nose. Mercedes are running with a different steering wheel this year, cut off at the bottom in an effort to further reduce weight.

McLaren

Full Australian updates were not available for Bahrain, again the team suffered a breakdown with only 21 laps completed on the last day. Additional cooling gills have been added to the car and a single pillar on the rear wing. The team are running carbon fibre wishbones, which will no doubt be seen on other cars in the near future.

Lotus

The two pronged nose cone has now been deemed legal after one side has been extended and made larger, but the car is still very unreliable, the team indicating that they have only done 30% of what was necessary pre-season. Another engine blow up for Lotus meant that only 30 laps were completed. An innovative single rear wing pillar and off set exhaust pipe have been seen at Bahrain.

Ferrari

Adopted the two pillar rear wing support with central exhaust system, the team are suffering problems with heat from the turbo, insiders speculate that maybe they are not using the ballistic heat shield around the turbo system. Ferrari has tried several different front wing set ups with permutations from 3-7 veins but, again, they has suffered breakdowns in Bahrain.

Williams

A lovely looking car, even more so with the recently revealed Martini sponsorship livery. The team have again increased cooling and carried out some front wing tweaks and the car does appear to be one of the faster cars on circuit. Williams have also suffered engine failure at the end of the day in Bahrain.

Force India

Not the prettiest car, but a very effective, one of the Mercedes engine failures at Bahrain, but the team are very bullish about their chances for 2014

Sauber

Sauber, again, suffered an engine failure with Sutil driving, but have been impressive overall with 177 laps being completed in the same car.

Of the remainder of the field, Toro Rosso, Marussia and Caterham are all struggling with pace. Caterham predicting a new nose cone to be produced by Spain, probably along the lines of Lotus, but the car broke down in Bahrain with clutch failure.

Major Changes in the Cars from 2013 to 2014

Out goes the 2.4 litre V8, which has been in place since 2006, to be replaced by the 1600cc V6 turbo producing 600 bhp with a further 160 horsepower being produced by the KERS and TERS system.

The rev limit of the new engines is down to 15,000 RPM from 18,000 RPM.

The minimum car weight has increased from 624kg to 691kg.

Brake by wire system introduced, computer controlled to alternate breaking between KERS and rear brakes. The KERS system charging the internal battery aids acceleration and reduces turbo lag.

TERS exhaust gas recovery system providing additional engine power. The cars are now running single exhaust pipes to end blown diffuser effect.

Fuel is now 100 kilos which equates to approximately 135 litres, 30% less than last season.

Teams are allowed 5 engines in the season as opposed to 8 last year, and 5 KERS systems.

Gearbox now 8 gears up from 7 with fixed ratio gearboxes to last 6 races (5 in 2013).