Unjustifiable Australian GP Predictions
It is notoriously difficult to try and draw any firm conclusion from F1 winter testing and it would be foolish to make any firm predictions for the start of the season, the Australian GP in Melbourne, but that is exactly what this article intends to do. We will recklessly extrapolate from the limited information that we have to make some wild predictions.
Vettel Takes Pole Position
This prediction is probably the safest after Ferrari’s excellent form in testing. The SF 90 looked both fast and composed straight out of the box, setting times that have clearly made Ferrari’s principal competition sit up and pay attention. Most estimates put Ferrari around a half second ahead despite Mercedes revealing their true pace on the last day of testing. It looks therefore highly likely that one of the two Ferrari drivers will put it on pole. Why Vettel? The four-time world champion has looked assured during testing and ever since his blown diffuser Red Bull days he has liked a firm rear end. With more downforce than ever coming from the underfloor and diffuser and less from the front wing, due to the requirement to get the outwash working, it is likely that the car will have the rear bias that suits Vettel. We will see a Ferrari lock out on the front row followed by Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen; why? They both have great machinery and can outqualify their less assured teammates.
Lewis Hamilton For The Win
All that outwash that has been recovered has come at a cost to the downforce at the front end despite the larger wing and I believe that this will cause significant graining issues with the front tyres at race distance. Ferrari have been far more aggressive in their front wing solution than some other teams and this will cost them in the race. Lewis Hamilton will maintain the pressure into the race, will be able to follow more closely and force the pace with the cars in front, forcing Ferrari to take a sub-optimal tyre strategy and secure the first win of the season for Lewis Hamilton.
Renault Win A Battle with Haas For The ‘Best of the Rest’
The adjusted lap times from testing suggest that Haas F1 are at the front of the pack following the big three and if last season is anything to judge they will start the season strongly. The Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance is the biggest car manufacturer in F1; they are four years into a six-year plan to compete with the top three teams and I believe they are one of the sleeping giants. What will give Renault the edge over Haas? It is Daniel Ricciardo’s home race and the master of the braking zone will want to demonstrate to his home fans that leaving Red Bull Racing is not the worst decision of his career.
Daniel Kvyat Will Finish in the Points
Christened ‘The Torpedo’ by Sebastian Vettel after their collision at the 2016 F1 Chinese GP Daniel Kvyat was soon moved to the Red Bull development team, Toro Rosso, and from here his season fell apart. He never really recovered from this blow and ultimately lost his drive completely halfway through the 2017 season. So why the positive prediction? He has shown that he is as fast as some of the best drivers on the grid winning the GP3 series in 2013 and beating his teammate during the 2015 season at Red Bull in 2015. He also impressed as the Ferrari development driver. What’s more Helmut Marko, Red Bull Driver Development Head, has a good record for spotting future greats and if he’s picked Kvyat twice then there must be something there.
I hope these wild predictions have whetted your appetite for what promises to be an exciting season ahead with closer racing, a more competitive midfield and some exciting rookies coming through. What are your wild F1 Australian Grand Prix predictions?
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