The Australian Grand Prix, the third race of the year, will see the seasonal debut of the C5, the softest of the five compounds available in 2024. Alongside it will be the C4, which has already been used in Jeddah, and the C3, which is almost always present in the selections. It is a softer trio compared to last year’s edition of this race – when C2, C3, and C4 were chosen – but it does not represent an absolute debut regarding the softest compound. In fact, in 2022, Pirelli brought the C5 to Melbourne as Soft but decided to pair it with the C3 as Medium and the C2 as Hard, skipping the C4.
The choice to go softer was made in light of last year’s race, when the C2 was the standout performer, with ten drivers using it for 47 of the 58 laps completed, and another three completing more than 50 laps in a race characterized by numerous interruptions with the safety car deployed three times on track and, in fact, three red flags with two standing restarts and one rolling.
The circuit, set up within Albert Park and characterized by 14 corners, has recently been made smoother and remains a track where overtaking is quite difficult, although not as much as in the past. From a strategic point of view, traditionally the single stop is the most favored: the move towards a softer trio could potentially open up some room for alternatives or, in any case, for situations where the difference in pace between the cars on track determined by tire performance degradation could make overtaking easier.
The C5 – although unchanged from 2023 – is the compound that has been least used so far with the current cars. In fact, in addition to not being selected in any of the first two Grands Prix, only 140 kilometers were covered with the softest of the 2024 P Zeros during the only test session, held in Sakhir (Bahrain) from February 21 to 23, with only one proper run completed by Lewis Hamilton and then many out-in laps done by the Williams drivers. It should be added that only two other teams (Ferrari and Stake F1) had selected this compound, which is decidedly unsuitable for an abrasive asphalt like that of Bahrain. A relative unknown, albeit, ahead of the Grand Prix.
The Albert Park weekend is one of the favorites of the Formula 1 world, for the beauty of the city that hosts it and for the atmosphere it exudes. The layout of the circuit does not particularly stress the tires, and degradation is a factor more determined by wear than by thermal causes. Moreover, the beginning of the Australian autumn can bring surprises in terms of temperatures, with significant swings from one day to the next, and weather conditions: rain has a significant place in the history of this Grand Prix. There are activities on track from Thursday – along with Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 cars will also be performing, but there will also be series like the Porsche Carrera Cup and the Australian Supercars championship – and in four days, a lot of rubber will be deposited on the asphalt, significantly changing its level of grip.
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The Australian Grand Prix has been part of the Formula 1 World Championship calendar since 1985, and what will take place this weekend is the thirty-seventh edition. Until 1995, the race was held on the Adelaide street circuit before moving to Melbourne from the following year, where it has been held until today with the only interruption during the COVID-affected biennium (2020-2021).
The driver with the most wins in the Australian Grand Prix is Michael Schumacher (4), all in Melbourne and at the wheel of a Ferrari. The Scuderia is second in terms of victories (10), surpassed by McLaren (11). The Woking team is the first for number of pole positions (10), while the driver who has started most often from the front is Lewis Hamilton (8). As for podium finishes, Ferrari and McLaren are tied for first place with 26, and Hamilton leads the individual standings with 10 top-three finishes. It is worth noting that Red Bull has won in Melbourne only twice: in 2011 with Sebastian Vettel and last year with Max Verstappen.
Minimum starting pressures (slick tires)
Front: 24.0 psi
Rear: 21.5 psi
Maximum camber
Front: -3.25°
Rear: -1.75°
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