Albert Park is set in the city area Melbourne, in the Albert Park centered by a large and picturesque lake. The circuit is smooth and fast and flat and a favourite amongst pretty much all the F1 drivers.
This race is always closely fought, as everyone vies for home ground honours. The later race start time provides an unwelcomed deviation from the typical start time, with the sun well and truely in drivers eyes as they look for their braking points into turn 3.
Melbourne suits a medium to high downforce setting with hard springs. Tyre wear is fairly high here too.
Turn by turn
Turn 1: Brake at the 100m marker and shift down to 4th, running over the inside kerb as much as possible.
Turn 2: Lift for a moment as you ride the green fake grass on the inside of thturn then get back on the accellerator and straight line it as much as possible to the track out on the right side. Open DRS once you clear the apex
Turn 3: Brake heavily at 80m and downshift to 2nd as you hit the apex. Ride out to the left side then pull back to the right for turn 4.
Turn 4: Balance the throttle in 3rd gear, riding high and hard up over the inside of the turn. As you clear the apex, smash it into 4th and point the car back to the left of the track.
Turn 5: You're almost brushing your left front against the green wall as you turn in. Lift off the throttle for a moment before applying full throttle and upshifting to 6th mid corner. Open DRS once you clear the apex.
Turn 6 & 7 & 8: Brake at 80m and downshift to 4th gear running over the grass to right as much as possible. Open DRS and aim for the left hand side for turn 7. You should be able to apply 100% with DRS open and not hear any wheelspin when cornering and shifting to 7th gear.
Turn 9 & 10: Brake at 80m down to 3rd gear, bouncing the car over the grass on the inside of the corner, before heading over to the left for turn 10. Open DRS and stick left.
Turn 11 & 12: Brake gently at 120m and shift into 5th, aiming for the bollard on the inside, but just to the right. Run up over the kerb and cut turn 12 short by a fair margin. Open DRS.
Turn 13: Brake at 60m and shift down to 3rd, cutting the inside apex across the grass. Grab 4th once past the apex and shift up to 5th before turn 14.
Turn 14: Shift down to 4th and floor it and grab 5th. Head over to the right for turn 15.
Turn 15: Brake at 60m and shift down to 2nd gear. Apply half throttle through 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear.
Turn 16: Accelerate hard and engage DRS once past the apex.