Motorsport Week reflects on the season-opening Australian Grand Prix by picking out some of the key conclusions from the event, and whether it could set the tone for the remainder of the year.
Mercedes, and Hamilton, are streets ahead
Lewis Hamilton’s outrageous pole lap was mesmerising, he was the quickest driver in the first stint, and would have coasted to victory but for Mercedes’ software-induced miscalculation. Hamilton’s pace was ominous for the rest, and he was desperately unlucky not only to fall behind Sebastian Vettel, but to do so at a circuit where overtaking is extremely difficult. Even so, Hamilton stuck to Vettel for several laps – again demonstrating his pace in hand. Valtteri Bottas, meanwhile, aptly demonstrated that the result is not merely through having the best car. A messy build-up deteriorated with his violent Q3 crash, and from 15th on the grid he had the VSC to thank for rising to a so-so eighth. This was a disastrous weekend for a driver who needs a standout 2018; he needs to use the lessons from 2017 to reset and regard Bahrain as a completely fresh start.
Vettel is not yet comfortable in 2018

Vettel repeated his 2017 result but this year’s win was achieved in far more fortuitous circumstances. 12 months ago he had the pace to out-gun Hamilton, this time around he was third-best and lucked into the win through a perfect set of circumstances. Vettel revelled in last year’s well-balanced and malleable package but has yet to find the equilibrium with the SF71-H. “I think the car has huge potential but I’m still struggling a little bit,” said Vettel. “When you talk about something that you miss as a driver, the car doesn’t respond the way you like and it’s still sliding in places you don’t want it to slide. I want the car to be spot on when I hit the brakes and turn in, and in that window, I’m not yet happy, so it’s always sort-of a compromise.” Getting a better handle on the SF71-H will be a key target in Bahrain.
Red Bull’s confidence justified, but a title push is fanciful
Red Bull brought forward its usual schedule in order to avoid the slow start that impacted its chances in recent years. Its reward was its biggest points haul from a season opener in the hybrid era, at a circuit that is not typically one of its favourites. Max Verstappen felt only a mistake was between him and a front row start, from where his approach to Turn 1, spin, and VSC close call with Fernando Alonso influenced his result. Daniel Ricciardo recovered from eighth to fourth, his podium prospects stymied by his harsh but correct penalty for a red-flag transgression. Red Bull had the pace for a podium, other circuits will better suit its package, and it is closer to its title ambition than 12 months ago – but it is still significantly enough behind Mercedes for that goal to be out of reach for now.
Dis-Haas-ter shouldn’t be discouraging…

Haas caught the eye in testing and built on its pace through Friday and Saturday – prompting a handful of rivals to bring up its close alliance with Ferrari. Kevin Magnussen starred in qualifying and the race, swooping around Max Verstappen, and he was backed up by Romain Grosjean, before disaster struck. A cross-threaded wheel nut duped Haas’ mechanics into believing the wheel was affixed, and for it to occur once was unfortunate, for it to happen twice in quick succession was devastating. A potential 22 points was chucked away, which could have financial ramifications come Abu Dhabi, but the performance of the VF-18 was a huge encouragement. The big question is whether Haas, typically strong in Australia, can realise its ambition of consistency, while also swatting aside its well-resourced and fast-developing opponents.
…but the battle for fourth will be close
There were extenuating circumstances – with the compromised Verstappen and Bottas interlopers in the mix – but the battle for points was tight, setting the theme for the rest of the season. Positions eight through 18 were separated by just a second on Friday and while Haas pulled clear, McLaren and Renault were closely-matched, and have the resources and financial backing to make it a close season-long three-way fight. Force India’s one-lap pace was no worse than last year, but its usual stronger race pace was not in evidence, albeit with Esteban Ocon compromised by damage. Force India, previous holder of fourth, is currently seventh best, but is still trying to get on top of its heavily overhauled VJM11, and is reassuringly within sight of the battle ahead.
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag?

Or so sang Katy Perry. It was also what did for Sergey Sirotkin’s Grand Prix debut, just four laps into his career in the championship, on a miserable weekend for Williams. The team was lacklustre during testing and remained towards the rear of the pack in Australia, a frustrated Lance Stroll the penultimate classified runner. Stroll outlined that Williams “can’t race at the moment” after struggling with “major, major overheating issues” as he began his sophomore season adrift of the midfield. If Australia was the norm, and there was little evidence to suggest Williams was unduly shocked at its predicament, then points could sadly be an irregular occurrence this year.
Toro Rosso’s Honda chapter begins badly
Toro Rosso departed testing in a buoyant mood but its Australian Grand Prix voyage was layered in disappointment through a combination of inexperienced drivers, a so-so chassis, and a misfiring engine. Brendon Hartley reckoned Q2 was within reach but failed to sufficiently improve, and in suffering “probably the biggest lock up I’ve ever had” into Turn 1 he skewered his strategy, leaving him on the back foot, and was half a minute adrift of the pack when the race restarted. Pierre Gasly, meanwhile, messed up his final Q1 flyer and was halted by an MGU-H failure, a frustrating reliability setback after smooth pre-season running. Hartley, at least, displayed pace comparable with Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll in the second stint, providing hope going forward.
Qualifying will be more crucial

The year-on-year development is such that Formula 1 cars are quicker this year, which naturally has ramifications for overtaking. Firstly, faster cars means it is harder to out-brake a rival, while a closer field spread, with engines gradually converging, leaves less wiggle room for speed differences. Secondly, faster cars have come through teams unearthing more downforce, in turn creating more turbulent air for a pursuing driver, thus accentuating the difficulty in following a rival, leading to overheating tyres and engines. The problem was undoubtedly exacerbated at Albert Park – a notoriously tricky circuit at which to pass – and overtaking will be easier at upcoming events in Bahrain, China and Azerbaijan. But that there were no passes (and not even a half-hearted lunge) for the final half of the race emphasises that one-lap pace will be even more important this year.
Off-track jostling has already started
The upcoming months will be crucial in determining Formula 1’s post-2020 direction and the off-track manoeuvres are well and truly underway. Already the battle lines have been drawn, with Mercedes and Ferrari forming an alliance in wanting power units, and current financial payments, to remain relatively unchanged. Red Bull is vocal proponent of the alternative mind-set, of which McLaren is also a member, in desiring a formula where engines are less relevant. The fallout surrounding Ferrari’s capture of current FIA man Laurent Mekies provided an insight; during the press conference on Friday, Christian Horner expressed his view that Ferrari had gone against what it had agreed at a Strategy Group meeting. Maurizio Arrivabene countered. Toto Wolff, meanwhile, remained quiet. Horner also emphasised that teams cannot be trusted to have their say in the regulations, and that it should be up to Liberty Media to decide the future (ie, because what Liberty wants is more aligned with Red Bull’s ambitions than the Mercedes/Ferrari view). Tellingly, Mercedes widely publicised a LinkedIn article from Chairman Dieter Zetsche declaring Formula 1 to be more relevant now than it has ever been – and that is important for Mercedes. Keep an eye on this one…