The countdown to the new F1 season is almost over and with new cars, new drivers and new rules it’s set to be one of the most exciting seasons yet! So, to make sure you’re ready for all the excitement of another year of Formula 1, here’s everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.
When does it start?
The new F1 season kicks off with qualifying on Friday, but it’s not until Sunday that the real racing starts. You’ll need to set an alarm clock to catch the action from the off though, but if you’re half as excited as we are you won’t mind the 6am start!
Who’s driving for who?
When Nico Rosberg announced his shock retirement just five days after winning the world title it sparked one of the biggest driver merry-go-rounds ever seen, but after three months of seat swapping we finally know who’ll be taking their place on the grid in Melbourne.
The man tasked with replacing the retiring Rosberg at Mercedes is former Williams driver Valterri Bottas, and taking his seat at Williams is fan-favourite Felipe Massa, who retired and returned to F1 in a matter of weeks. Still with us? Good! Joining Massa at Williams is former Formula 3 champion Lance Stroll, and replacing Jenson Button at McLaren is Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne, who’ll be deputising for the Brit during his sabbatical.
It’s not just the big boys that have been on the move though, Renault, Sauber and Hass have all made changes too! Check out the full driver lineup here..
Who’s the favourite?
With the reigning world champion out of the picture there’s one clear favourite for the world title, and Lewis Hamilton will be desperate to make up for the disappointment of last season by claiming his fourth Driver’s Championship. We’re pretty sure it’s not just going to be a one horse race though, with Vettel, Verstappen and Ricciardo all in contention it could be one of the closest seasons yet. Who knows, Hamilton could even face competition from his new teammate Valterri Bottas – and with the two Mercedes free to
race it we’re guaranteed plenty of drama!
What are the new rules?
The new rule changes implemented for the 2017/18 season are designed to make F1 even more exciting, which means faster lap times and even more overtaking. By allowing teams to make both their bodywork and tyres wider F1 cars are expected to have better grip and downforce, which ultimately means even more speed. F1 experts are expecting lap times to improve by more than three seconds at most circuits, and that makes for some serious racing!
Where can I join in with the action?
If the start of the F1 season’s got you in the mood for some racing there’s only one place to satisfy your need for speed – your nearest Karting Nation circuit! Some of Formula 1’s most famous drivers started out by racing karts, which means there’s nowhere better to fine tune your F1 skills. Find your nearest venue here.