28/03/2023
NEWS STORY
Lando Norris: "I'm looking forward to being back in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix this weekend. I made my Formula 1 debut at Albert Park in 2019, so it's a special race for me and one I scored points at last year on the new circuit layout.
"After a frustrating weekend in Jeddah, I've been looking forward to getting back on track to make some positive steps forward. I've spent time at the factory working hard with the team to prepare myself and the sessions we've put in on the sim have been beneficial. The focus is on improving race by race and we're going to fight hard with the aim of securing a successful result this weekend."
Oscar Piastri: "It's great to be heading to Melbourne for my home grand prix. I grew up in the suburbs of the city and it is a special feeling to be returning as an F1 driver. It's set to be a fantastic atmosphere and I can't wait to get there and be a part of it. I'm really looking forward to seeing all of the home crowd and all of the papaya fans. This will be the first time that I've raced at Albert Park and I'm sure it will be an experience that I remember. The weather is usually changeable here so it could be an interesting one.
"Securing a starting position of P8 in my second-ever F1 quali and ticking another box by finishing a full grand prix was extremely satisfying in Jeddah, although Sunday was not seamless. There is a long way to go this season. We'll keep on pushing hard as a team and my learning curve continues."
Andrea Stella, Team Principal: "We are pleased to be returning to Melbourne and the Australian Grand Prix. This will be Oscar's first home race in his Formula 1 career, and we look forward to getting back to the passionate Australian fans and scoring the first points of this 2023 season.
"It was a bittersweet experience last time out. We were pleased to see Oscar make Q3 in Jeddah, and we could have been again competitive in the race. However, we had to change the front wings on both cars after one lap, which put us in a difficult position.
"We're determined to improve the car and unlock as much performance as possible throughout the season. The season is long and there will be plenty of opportunities, starting from the next round at Albert Park."
Albert Park Circuit
Race laps: 58
Circuit length: 5.278km/3.279 miles
Total race distance: 306.124km/190.217 miles
Number of corners: 14 (9 right, 5 left)
Allocated tyre compounds: Hard: C2, Medium: C3 and Soft: C4