Formula One - Circa 2013. Melbourne On Show To the World.

Melbourne. (C)

    The 2013 Formula One season has arrived and once again Melbourne, Australia has the distinguished honour of hosting the season's opening event. As usual, F1 winter testing seemed to reveal a different leader of the timesheets each day. No one knows what programme each team is running, and at what stage they are with their development of their new cars. With no real definitive form guide, speculation will undoubtedly crescendo. There's always a certain feeling concocting anticipation, nervousness and thrilling excitement leading into the first event. Mucho fantastico!
    Melbourne itself is a vibrant, exciting city, as evidenced by constantly being voted one of the most liveable cities in the world. Possessing a rich sporting heritage and a hip art and music culture, Melbourne is also renown for it's superb food. A stroll around any number of quiet CBD laneways could reveal colourful street art or a cosy restaurant, or head down to Acland St in St Kilda for an amazing array of cafes to choose from. If shopping's your thing, check out Chapel St or the Bourke St Mall. If you prefer live music, you certainly can't go past the Prince Of Wales Hotel or The Esplanade Hotel, both in St Kilda. Melbourne's parklands are simply sensational. Domain Botanical Gardens, Carlton Gardens, St Kilda Botanical Gardens, are all worth your exploration. A leisurely walk along the Yarra River around Southbank will expose cafes, bars, boutiques, restaurants and shopping malls, not to mention great photo opportunities. A modern city complemented with old and new architecture, spectacular sculptures and fountains, ever present trams, all add up to Melbourne possessing a unique vibe. No trip to Melbourne is complete however, without a visit to the southern hemisphere's highest observation deck on top of the Eureka Tower. Stunning 360 degree views that takes on a whole new dimension at night plus unrivalled views of the Albert Park precinct.
    Which leads us to the circuit. This year the Albert Park street circuit is celebrating 60 years since motorsport converged on the picturesque lakeside circuit. Many people have asked us where the best vantage points are? Turn 1 always offers action a-plenty, but if you'd like to see an F1 car brake from 310km down to an 80km hairpin in the space of 110m, head down to Turn 3. Impressive stuff. The fast left-right chicane at Turns 11+12 offers punters a chance to see an F1 car at it's best as they blast through at 230km on entry and 260km on exit. Jaw dropping stuff. Two of our favourite vantage points are the fast right hand sweepers at Turn 14 and Turn 5. They smash both these corners at around 220km using all the road, whilst the ever-present wall is unwilling to provide any run off at Turn 5. Mesmerising stuff. Being a street circuit the fans are always close to the action.
    As for this year's Formula One championship, we'll make no predictions, except to say, that the cream always rises to the top. 
    As for the Australian Grand Prix, who knows, especially since Pirelli's 2013 spec tyres are another aggressive step forward from 2012. This year they're providing the medium and super-soft compounds, effectively making last year's option tyre, this year's prime tyre. Strategy will certainly be difficult to foresee. Remember though in trying, unpredictable conditions where tyre management is crucial, the most experienced driver on the grid has won three of the last four Aussie GP's; Jenson Button. Intriguing stuff.
    Let us know what you're doing for the Australian Grand Prix. Tell us your prediction for the great race. Leave formulafrontrow.com a comment or drop us a line at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com. It'll be an awesome event. See you in Melbourne....

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