2013 Australian Grand Prix --- [Preview]

2013 F1 season starts off in less than 2 weeks in Melbourne, Australia. This will be the 78th edition of the Australian Grand Prix, which will be raced over 58 laps .

Jenson Button took the checkered flag last season, his third title there in the last four seasons. McLaren has won a record 12 times, at Albert Park, in the Melbourne GP .

Friday March 15th starts the practice 1 and practice 2 sessions followed by Saturday’s final practice 3 and then qualifying before the race Sunday March 17th.

The race in 2012 , contested over 58 laps, was won by McLaren driver Jenson Button . Reigning double World Champion Sebastian Vettel, driving for Red Bull Racing, finished in second place, while pole sitter and Button’s McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton completed the podium. Australian Mark Webber was fourth, his best result in his home Grand prix.

Button should definitely considered one of the best at the Grand Prix circuit as he has been comfortable at Albert Park and the McLaren has been very well suited to the conditions there as well. McLaren has taken three of the last five titles in Melbourne. So, with that being said if not the favorite, the likelihood that former world champion Button will have a good run in the opening Grand Prix of the season is a pretty good bet. While McLaren wasn’t that happy with the car during preseason testing, still learning about all the new developments and changes they have made to last year’s car, you can’t really ignore the history that Button has at the circuit. At the very least, Button should be worth backing for a podium finish.

Red Bull had a slow start last year, but they learned and adapted during the season to propel Vettel towards his third F1 Drivers Championship in a row. Vettel took second in last season’s race at Melbourne, between McLaren drivers Button and Hamilton, and first in 2011. So, one would think he could have a good chance in the debut race for 2013. Vettel has taken two of the last three pole positions at the Australian Grands Prix and qualifies well, so he will probably be favored to start at or near the front of the pack this year.

Kimi Raikkonen won back in 2007 when he was driving with Ferrari. Lotus had a solid preseason even if they had a few reliability issues, they weren’t major ones and if they can pull it together they will be in contention on March 17th. If he can build on the comeback season from last year the time would be now to take some points early in the season. Hamilton, even though switching teams to Mercedes from McLaren has been a learning curve they have made substantial progress in the preseason and look poised to be on the podium many times this year. Alonso, also looks solid for Ferrari even though he hasn’t won in Australia since 2006 and hasn’t made a podium appearance in the last three years of the GP in Melbourne. Ferrari is hoping to make a stronger start than they did in previous years in the first race of 2013.