The great fear flies to Australia

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After the start in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, most of the ten teams have already modified or examined their cars. What the budget limit just allows.

The silver and red panic

At Ferrari and Mercedes, no stone is left unturned. Will Melbourne finally take the first podium in 2023? “Senior” Fernando Alonso (41) was twice the bummer in the Aston Martin. The Spaniard was on the podium for the last time in a row in Monza and Singapore in 2013. Then for Ferrari.

Alonso makes history. His second-place finish on the grid (due to Leclerc’s penalty) was Aston Martin’s best since the 1959 British Grand Prix with Englishman Roy Salvadori.

In 1959 and 1960, the luxury brand failed to score points in just five races with a works car. Until the “comeback” in 2021.

Can Alonso irritate bulls?

“We want to defend our second place among the teams in Australia,” said Alonso, who debuted at the same venue 22 years ago in a Minardi. In 2005 and 2006 he won the world championship in a Renault. Due to a total of eight World Cup points, the man from Oviedo missed three more crowns!

“Fernando is still underestimated by many people. He can easily become world champion again in the best car,” said Flavio Briatore (soon to be 73), his discoverer and long-term manager.

Hard bread for Alfa-Sauber

Alfa-Sauber flies to Australia with four points. A year ago there were also four points here (8th Bottas, 11th Zhou). It would be a good catch this time. Because Jeddah failed strategically. As the only team, both pilots changed the rubber and drove different mixtures: 13th Zhou, 18th and last Bottas.

At the moment, optimism seems to be the only “weapon” the Hinwil team takes to the races. Hard bread must be eaten in 2023. And only points can dispel fear.

Hülkenberg overtook Heidfeld

Just like the still pointless Alpha Tauri-Honda team. The Japanese Yuki Tsunoda is at her wit’s end. In the last three races he finished eleventh, just short of a championship point.

Nico Hülkenberg (35) has now overtaken his compatriot Nick Heidfeld (45) at Haas-Ferrari – 183 races without a win. The Italian Andrea de Cesaris (deceased on October 5, 2014) remains in the lead with 208 World Cup rides without success.

Source : Blick