2017 FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
After months of waiting – the time is nearly here and we’re getting ready for the 2017 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix.
Here we’ll be bringing you all the latest from the Australian Grand Prix including driver interviews and news.
Drivers are currently on-track for the drivers parade ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
Vettel – “We have prepared for the race and we ran through everything this morning. We are looking forward to the race, it’s a long race and it’s a lot longer but yeah – it should be a good race.”
Hamilton – “It’s great to be here, there’s such a great crowd and I hope we can have the best race we’ve ever seen. This is what I live for and the energy that we get from this place is incredible.”
Ricciardo – “It’s not perfect (5 place grid penalty) and that’s more motivation – hopefully we can give the fans a few reasons to cheer. This race typically you always have a few incidents – not everyone finishes the race, let’s just say that. I’ll go for it.”
Verstappen – “There’s a lot of fans – the Australian fans are great. For the moment this is the best we can do so I’m happy with that. The whole country, the people – I always enjoy coming back here.”
Pit Lane OPEN – 2017 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix
The Pit Lane is now open and drivers are making their way onto the track.
Force India Ready To Go – Australian Grand Prix
The Sahara Force India team is ready to make it’s way onto the track.
Daniel Ricciardo has stopped on his lap out of the pits and after making his way round the track he’s stuck in gear – news on this coming soon as Ricciardo gets out of the car.
Ocon – “The start will be quite interesting – it’s a tight turn up there.”
It’s nearly race time – drivers are currently on the track and getting ready.
Daniel Ricciardo is currently back in the pits talking to the team.
There’s an electronical issue with Daniel Ricciardo’s car – the team are currently looking into it and if the issue can be resolved he will start from the pit lane.
Daniel Ricciardo is back in his car!
Here is the OFFICIAL photo of the driver line-up for the 2017 Formula1 Season.
2017 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix – Melbourne
It’s about to begin – the first race of the 2017 Formula 1 Season.
The Australian Grand Prix.
Formation Lap.
The start has been aborted – another formation lap is taking place.
Hamilton – “It feels poor on the grid.”
Lap 1
Lights Out!
Hamilton gets away well – he’s in the lead followed by Vettel and Bottas.
Sauber and Haas come together – Magnussen and Ericsson.
Perez makes his way past the Toro Rosso.
Lap 2
Vettel is right behind Hamilton – Hamilton leads.
Hamilton and Vettel are both looking strong – Bottas slightly behind.
Ricciardo still in the pits.
Lap 3
Ricciardo is now making his way out of the pits – he’s joining the race, the crowd are cheering away!
Lap 4
Sebastian Vettel sets the fastest lap time – he’s looking strong so far.
Bottas behind Vettel followed by Raikkonen.
Magnussen and Ericsson are both under investigation for the incident.
Lap 5
Hamilton is reporting that he’s struggling for grip.
Lap 7
Team to Ricciardo – “Ok Daniel, have fun.”
He’s a lap down but making his way through.
Lap 9
Sebastian Vettel sets another fastest lap time of the race.
Lap 10
Vandoorne comes into the pits for a tyre-change however he has to start things up again which takes time for him to get back out on-track.
Team to Vandoorne – “You will do the power cycle”
Lap 11
Hamilton – “Tyres are overheating”
He’s been reporting problems from the beginning – a lack of grip beforehand.
Lap 12
Palmer – “Problem, problem”
Palmer is going round the track rather slowly.
No further action between Magnussen and Ericsson incident.
Lap 14
Hamilton now sets the fastest lap time.
Lap 15
Hamilton still leads the race.
Palmer still reporting an issue with brakes.
Romain Grosjean comes into the pits – he’s retiring from the race.
The car is extinguished as clouds of smoke emerge from the car.
Lap 17
Palmer still having problems suffering with a brake issue.
The team are asking him to stay out and “keep going”.
Hamilton leads the race – Vettel is right behind.
Lap 18
Hamilton pits first – Vettel is now in the lead!
Hamilton on the soft tyre (yellow).
Palmer is retiring from the race.
Plenty of cars are now in the pits changing their tyres.
Lap 19
Vettel is now in the lead – he hasn’t got traffic ahead however Hamilton has just set the fastest sector time after a tyre-change.
Sainz comes into the pits.
Bottas in second place followed by Raikkonen.
Hamilton setting fast lap times.
Lap 20
Team to Vettel – “Tyres look very healthy – keep pushing and keep your head down.”
Hamilton – “There’s a lot of understeer – is the floor OK?”
Sounds like he’s gone wide or gone off somewhere on the track.
Lap 21
Ricciardo still trying to un-lap himself as he started a lap down due to an electrical issue.
Team to Hamilton – “Race critical – You need to get past Verstappen.”
Hamilton – “Repeat, Repeat”
Team to Hamilton – “You need to get past Verstappen.”
Lap 23
Vettel has stayed out – he’s not coming into the pits yet.
Hamilton – “It’s not working, I can’t get past this guy.”
Verstappen – “I’m starting to struggle with the rear tyres.”
Vettel now comes into the pits.
Lap 24
Raikkonen is ahead – Vettel comes out IN FRONT of Hamilton.
Hamilton is still behind Verstappen.
It’s Raikkonen in the lead – Bottas right behind, they still haven’t come into the pits.
Sauber is out of the race.
Lap 25
Verstappen is still ahead of Hamilton.
Hamilton – “Nothing left in these tyres.”
He sounds frustrated and hasn’t been happy from the beginning of the race.
Lap 26
Bottas now pits.
Verstappen pits leaving Hamilton some clear air.
Hamilton – “These tyres have gone.”
Super soft tyres for Verstappen.
Lap 27
Raikkonen now comes into the pits – he’s on soft tyres.
Team to Hamilton – “Lewis we’re now thinking Plan B”
Vettel leading the race.
Lap 28
Hamilton stays out – he’s in second.
Bottas now sets the fastest lap time.
Lap 29
Ricciardo is on the side of the track – he’s stopped.
He hasn’t gotten out of the car yet.
Team to Ricciardo – “Sorry mate, the car is done.”
Riccciardo now gets out of the car.
Lap 30
He’s steering the car away.
At the moment it looks like an engine failure for Daniel Ricciardo.
Lap 31
Vettel leads the race – Hamilton in second followed by his team-mate Bottas who’s then followed by Raikkonen and Verstappen.
Hamilton still not happy.
Lap 33
Team to Hamilton – “Let us know what you can do to close that gap.”
Lap 36
Hamilton being told to go back to ‘Plan A’.
Lap 39
Bottas is now pushing and closing the gap to his team-mate.
Hamilton hasn’t been happy from the beginning with the team telling him to stick with ‘Plan A’.
Vettel leading the race – he looks comfortable and has looked comfortable right from the beginning of the race.
Lap 41
The Australian Grand Prix is a good one so far!
Nico Rosberg is also watching the race – tweeting!
Hamilton in second place.
Bottas in third.
Lap 43
Verstappen now sets a fastest lap time.
Vettel leading the race.
Lance Stroll goes off-track and into the gravel.
Lap 44
Raikkonen in 4th place – he’s got the two Mercedes drivers ahead.
Bottas closing the gap to his team-mate.
Lance Stroll is in the pits – he’s retiring from the race.
Massa in 6th place.
Lap 45
Vettel leading the race.
Hamilton – “Power dropping in and out.”
Not a happy driver – this race hasn’t been great for Lewis Hamilton.
Lap 50
Bottas is closing the gap to Hamilton.
Vettel leading the race.
Verstappen catching up to Raikkonen too.
Magnussen is OUT of the race.
Kvyat is coming into the pits.
Lap 51
Top 5 Drivers
Vettel
Hamilton
Bottas
Raikkonen
Verstappen
Lap 52
A battle between Hulkenberg, Ocon and Alonso – Alonso has a little look at getting past but drops to 12th place.
Alonso – ” **** – there is something wrong with the car – maybe something with the suspension, something pulling to the left.”
Lap 53
Kvyat sets a fastest lap time.
Hamilton pushes slightly.
Alonso retires from the race after reporting a problem with the car.
Lap 55
3 Laps Remaining
Vettel still leads the race.
Hamilton in 2nd place.
Bottas in 3rd.
Raikkonen in 4th.
Verstappen in 5th.
Things could change in the last couple of laps – Verstappen could make his way past Raikkonen.
The gap has widened between Bottas and Hamilton now.
Lap 56
Verstappen – “How much faster is the fastest lap?”
Team to Verstappen – “Too fast.”
Lap 57
Final lap – Vettel leading.
The crowd is starting to cheer for the Ferrari driver.
Sebastian Vettel WINS The Australian Grand Prix!
Hamilton 2nd place – ahead of his team-mate Bottas in 3rd.
Brief Reaction From Top 3 Drivers
Vettel – “It’s unbelievable – thank you to everyone. This was a mad Grand Prix – I was coming back to the pits and people were on the track. The team have been working really hard and it was a beautiful day – thank you.”
Hamilton – “A big congratulations to Ferrari – a big weekend for us and the team. I lost grip and then got stuck behind one of the Red Bull’s – look at this crowd, thank you to everyone.”
Bottas – “First race with the team – I want to Thank everyone, the team have been so welcoming. Everything went nice and smoothly – the Red guys were a little bit quicker so that’s something we need to work on and I’m looking forward to the next few races.”
Vettel – “It’s a long way ahead – for now we are just happy, it was an exceptional race and at the start I wasn’t too happy. I was trying to keep the pressure on to say ‘We are here to fight‘ – the car was working and the car was excellent – the support here is amazing and thank you very much.”
Vettel – “It was a great race, I could keep going forever – thank you very much.”
Lots more coming soon!
xxx