44 days until lights go out: here's what to expect from "new" F1 Australian GP
Today at 07:09 AM
There are now 44 days left until the official start of the 2025 F1 season. The Australian GP returns as the season opener after Bahrain had taken its place in recent years. For the occasion, the FIA and the organizers have decided to make some changes to the circuit to avoid the problems seen in 2024.
The modifications concern Turns 6 and 7 of the track, the spots where Alex Albon and George Russell crashed in 2024. In the Thai driver’s case, he bounced off the curb and crashed into the barriers during FP1.
The British driver, on the other hand, was caught off guard by a sudden slowdown from Fernando Alonso ahead of him in Turn 6 on the final lap of the GP. The Mercedes driver ran into the gravel and then came to a dangerous stop in the middle of the track.
The FIA and local organizers considered several solutions to improve safety in that section of the circuit. Ultimately, they opted to adjust the barrier on the left side of the drivers, repositioning it at a different angle to reduce the risk of cars bouncing back onto the track.
The international federation also decided to modify the curbs at Turns 6 and 7, lowering them instead of raising them. Additionally, the gravel has been extended to the edge of the turn.
“Following a review of last year's event at Albert Park, several modifications to Turns 6 and 7 have been approved in collaboration with the local ASN and Grand Prix organizers,” confirmed an FIA spokesperson, who then detailed the specific changes made to the Australian circuit ahead of the F1 GP.
“These changes were proposed based on feedback from the FIA Safety Department as part of their ongoing analysis of all circuits, as well as input from drivers and teams. They aim to improve safety while maintaining the dynamics of the corners and exciting racing,” the spokesperson continued.
It is likely that the changes will be well received by the drivers, who last year had urged the FIA to make modifications to that section of the circuit following the aforementioned incidents.
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