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2013 Australian GP: Formula One F1 Starting Line-Up (Grid) & Race Preview
By Mike Sulka
The Australian Grand Prix is the 2013 Formula One F1 season opener for the pinnacle of racing. The 5.303km (3.295 mi) 16-turn street circuit event is held at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia. The track is temporary - ie green - and the times continue to drop significantly throughout the weekend as the rubber gets laid down.
Historically, the Australian Grand Prix has had a number of significant and spectacular incidents due to a tight Turn One, and the fastest straight (315kph) leading up to it. In fact, in 2002 only eight cars finished the Grand Prix. Though not as bad in 2010, only 14 cars of 24 finished the Grand Prix with three cars involved in a lap one accident.
For today's Grand Prix, we do not yet know the qualifying order as yesterday's session completed Q1, but Q2 & Q3 were postponed until 11 AM Sunday (local time)/ 8PM Eastern.
Whoever takes pole will find some value in the following number: the Pole-sitter has won six of the last nine Australian Grand Prix. However, last season Jenson Button (McLaren) won from a second place starting position. 2012 Pole sitter Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) finished third.
Since 2000, the Australian Grand Prix has been won from 5th or lower just once - Coulthard started 11th in 2003.
Also of note, Jenson Button has won three of the last four Australian Grand Prix. Only once did he start from Pole.
If there is going to be a first turn muck-up, the middle of the field is full of younger drivers with nerves of steel, and courage. The question is whether they will keep their heads, or head home early.
There are no major rule changes that are expected to affect pit stop strategy, though Pirelli is said to be bringing much softer compounds so instead of two pitstops we could see three.
As for our pick to win... We are going to go with Sebastian Vettel. The three-time champion appears to be the quickest in the dry.
Enjoy the race, it could be a very exciting one especially if the rainy weekend continues, or if there is an early full-course caution to mix up all the pit strategies even more!
Cheers!
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 | The starting line-up will be updated as soon as qualifying is completed.
2013 Australian GP: Formula One Qualifying Results
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| Pos |
No |
Driver |
Team |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Laps |
| 1 |
1 |
Sebastian Vettel |
Red Bull Racing-Renault |
1:44.657 |
1:36.745 |
1:27.407 |
27 |
| 2 |
2 |
Mark Webber |
Red Bull Racing-Renault |
1:44.472 |
1:36.524 |
1:27.827 |
26 |
| 3 |
10 |
Lewis Hamilton |
Mercedes |
1:45.456 |
1:36.625 |
1:28.087 |
29 |
| 4 |
4 |
Felipe Massa |
Ferrari |
1:44.635 |
1:36.666 |
1:28.490 |
23 |
| 5 |
3 |
Fernando Alonso |
Ferrari |
1:43.850 |
1:36.691 |
1:28.493 |
26 |
| 6 |
9 |
Nico Rosberg |
Mercedes |
1:43.380 |
1:36.194 |
1:28.523 |
28 |
| 7 |
7 |
Kimi Raikkonen |
Lotus-Renault |
1:45.545 |
1:37.517 |
1:28.738 |
27 |
| 8 |
8 |
Romain Grosjean |
Lotus-Renault |
1:44.284 |
1:37.641 |
1:29.013 |
25 |
| 9 |
14 |
Paul Di Resta |
Force India-Mercedes |
1:45.601 |
1:36.901 |
1:29.305 |
23 |
| 10 |
5 |
Jenson Button |
McLaren-Mercedes |
1:44.688 |
1:36.644 |
1:30.357 |
24 |
| 11 |
11 |
Nico Hulkenberg |
Sauber-Ferrari |
1:45.930 |
1:38.067 |
|
19 |
| 12 |
15 |
Adrian Sutil |
Force India-Mercedes |
1:47.330 |
1:38.134 |
|
19 |
| 13 |
18 |
Jean-Eric Vergne |
STR-Ferrari |
1:44.871 |
1:38.778 |
|
19 |
| 14 |
19 |
Daniel Ricciardo |
STR-Ferrari |
1:46.450 |
1:39.042 |
|
20 |
| 15 |
6 |
Sergio Perez |
McLaren-Mercedes |
1:44.300 |
1:39.900 |
|
18 |
| 16 |
17 |
Valtteri Bottas |
Williams-Renault |
1:47.328 |
1:40.290 |
|
19 |
| 17 |
16 |
Pastor Maldonado |
Williams-Renault |
1:47.614 |
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11 |
| 18 |
12 |
Esteban Gutierrez |
Sauber-Ferrari |
1:47.776 |
|
|
10 |
| 19 |
22 |
Jules Bianchi |
Marussia-Cosworth |
1:48.147 |
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11 |
| 20 |
23 |
Max Chilton |
Marussia-Cosworth |
1:48.909 |
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11 |
| 21 |
21 |
Giedo van der Garde |
Caterham-Renault |
1:49.519 |
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11 |
| 22 |
20 |
Charles Pic |
Caterham-Renault |
1:50.626 |
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10 |
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Q1=107%=Time=1:50.616
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PaddockTalk Perspective
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