F1: Albert Park in Melbourne will host the season-opening race of the 2025 Formula One season.
Much has changed in the F1 landscape in the half-decade since the last Chinese Grand Prix, and when the sport touches down in Shanghai this weekend for the first time since 2019, it will do so under the control of new dynasty.
Daniel Ricciardo had put the driver market into significant flux a few months earlier with his shock decision to leave Red Bull Racing for Renault.Pierre Gasly was promoted into his place from Toro Rosso, and the team sacked Kiwi Brendon Hartley in the second car. In their places were F1 returnee Daniil Kvyat and Thai debutant Alex Albon.
His was a straight swap with Kimi Räikkönen, who partnered Antonio Giovinazzi at Alfa Romeo in the Italian’s first full-time season. His win count was accelerating. After taking nine victories in 2017, he scored 11 in all three of the following years, including in the 17-race 2020 campaign. Red Bull Racing switched to Honda power that year, becoming the de facto works team of the Japanese giant just as its power unit was finally starting to come good.
Red Bull Racing exploited it mercilessly to power Verstappen to his maiden title in acrimonious circumstances.His current victory tally of 57 puts him outright third on the leaderboard, 34 victories behind Michael Schumacher. It’s possible for him to match and beat the German legend by the end of next season.
Worse, however, was that it doubled down on its flawed 2022 design in 2023. Changes were made at the executive level of the design office, but the car produced for 2024 — a completely fresh design — is afflicted by many of the same problems, leaving the team looking totally wayward and far from the dominant force of 2019.The Briton had boasted an unprecedented record of at least one win every year of his career at the end of 2021.
As 2020 turned to 2021, it seemed almost certain that Ricciardo was positioning himself perfectly to collect a swag of victories and perhaps line himself up for a title shot with his decision to move to McLaren, nominally as team leader.
Dominant Run Red Bull Racing Michael Schumacher Dominant Force Melbourne Win Count Five-Time Champion Austria Home Favourite George Russell Team Leader Western Asia Brazil Eastern Asia Growing Pain Dominant Seasons Sebastian Vettel World Champion Europe Victoria Consecutive Constructor-Driver Championship Fernando Alonso Constructor-Driver Championship Doubles CAREER ZENITH Abu Dhabi Western Europe MERCEDES RECORDS Victory Tally Design Office Drivers Standings Southern Europe Italy Toro Rosso Career Momentum Works Team Mark Thompson Germany Dominant Design Philosophy Driver Market World Championship Grands Prix Pole Count Knock-On Effects Robert Kubica Rookie Season German Legend Oceania Max Verstappen Rule Changes Juan Manuel Fangio China America Title Standings Constructors Championships Victory Drought CHINESE GRAND Barren Run Career Victories Getty Images Inc. Charles Leclerc Championship Battle Monza Shanghai Australia And New Zealand Podium Appearances Switching Focus European Season Acclimatisation Phase Esteban Ocon Season Ranks Triple World Champion Asia Australia Reducing Downforce Podium Regular Pole Position
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Verstappen takes pole for Albert Park, Piastri fifth and ‘painful’ spot for RicciardoFormula 1 maestro and last year’s Australian Grand Prix winner Max Verstappen will start on pole for this year’s Albert Park race. Australia’s Oscar Piastri qualified in fifth spot.
Read more »
Family splashes $6.85m on Albert Park two-bedder with reno plansThe new owners could create a contemporary home that retains the history of stables that have been on the site for 100 years.
Read more »
Family splashes $6.85m on Albert Park two-bedder with reno plansThe new owners could create a contemporary home that retains the history of stables that have been on the site for 100 years.
Read more »
‘Very, very high pressure’: Supercars set for unique challenge at ‘warp speed’ Albert ParkMotorsport: The biggest stars in motorsport are set to take over Melbourne, when they take to the streets at Albert Park
Read more »
Grand Prix Melbourne: Nick Percat wins as Payne’s pain continues at Albert ParkNick Percat has claimed his first Supercars win in four years in Melbourne as rookie Matt Payne’s nightmare weekend continued.
Read more »
Carlos Sainz wins Australian Grand Prix as George Russell crashes on final lap at Albert Park7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »