This week, news emerged ahead of the Australian GP that the FIA’s Ethics Committee had absolved its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, of any involvement in two F1 events last year. Shortly after, Susie Wolff, director of the all-female F1 Academy and wife of Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff, took to social media to announce that she had filed a criminal complaint against the sport’s governing body for statements made about her in December.
Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding Red Bull Racing and their team principal Christian Horner, Mercedes’ star driver, Lewis Hamilton, swiftly voiced his support for Wolff’s legal action. Hamilton praised her bravery and the values she represents, emphasizing her leadership and the powerful message she sends by speaking out in a world where many are silenced.
Meanwhile, Red Bull Racing continues to face off-track issues as a suspended team employee exercises their right to appeal the team’s clearance of alleged misconduct by Horner. The employee has lodged a formal complaint with the FIA, further fueling the discussion surrounding the team at Albert Park.
Interestingly, the focus at Albert Park has not been on Red Bull’s dominant RB20 car, which has achieved flawless 1-2 results in the season-opening races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Instead, attention has turned to speculation about Max Verstappen’s potential move to Mercedes. However, Verstappen himself dismissed these rumors, stating his contentment within the team and highlighting the importance of retaining key personnel for sustained performance in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.
Verstappen is the frontrunner on Sunday to secure his third consecutive victory for 2024, his second at the Albert Park circuit in back-to-back years, and his record-matching 10th consecutive win since the Japanese Grand Prix last year.
Sergio Pérez is once again anticipated to finish behind Verstappen, resulting in another 1-2 finish for Red Bull. The Mexican driver has displayed more consistent form compared to the previous season.
Ferrari remains the closest competitor to Red Bull, with Charles Leclerc aiming to secure the front row alongside Verstappen for the sixth consecutive race and improve his competitiveness in the Melbourne Grand Prix.
“We find ourselves in a more favorable position compared to last year,” Leclerc stated. “However, we are still talking about a potential difference of four tenths of a second per lap in the race, which is still significant. I am cautiously optimistic, not solely focusing on the gap, but considering the overall situation within the team…”
Ferrari’s performance might be compromised due to Carlos Sainz’s uncertainty after undergoing surgery for appendicitis prior to the last race in Saudi Arabia. Although the Spanish driver, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is ready to return to the cockpit, he admitted not feeling 100%.
“If I’m not feeling well tomorrow, I will be the first to acknowledge it and request an additional two weeks until the next race,” Sainz declared. There is a possibility that Ferrari’s exceptional reserve driver Oliver Bearman, currently competing in F2 in Melbourne, could replace him for the second consecutive race.
McLaren is engaged in a battle with Mercedes to secure the position of F1’s third-fastest team, making Oscar Piastri more likely than his Australian compatriot Daniel Ricciardo to achieve a podium finish on home turf. Ricciardo is racing for the mid-grid team RB, formerly known as AlphaTauri and the second team under the ownership of Red Bull.
“I believe both of us will need some stroke of luck to end up on the podium,” Piastri commented. “But yes, it would be an incredibly special moment.”
Albert Park has scheduled two one-hour practice sessions on Friday, followed by a third practice session on Saturday leading up to the afternoon qualifying. The 58-lap race on Sunday is expected to take place under clear weather conditions, with a favorable forecast for the entire weekend. (Reported by Stewart Bell)