Australian GP track tweaked after heavy 2024 crashes

The FIA and native organisers have made security adjustments to Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit following heavy crashes in final yr’s Australian Grand Prix.

Within the 2024 race, Russell was caught out by Fernando Alonso braking sooner than anticipated for Flip 6, resulting in the Mercedes automobile going off and struggling a heavy crash earlier than his automobile was spat again onto the racing floor.

Turns 6 and seven, which had been re-profiled and made quicker, had already been a priority for the drivers earlier than Russell’s crash, with Williams’ Alex Albon additionally struggling a giant shunt in first free observe.

Among the many choices thought-about to make the nook safer embrace a re-profiling to cut back nook speeds as soon as once more, including an asphalt run-off space as a substitute of a gravel lure, or adjusting the boundaries behind the nook to try to stop automobiles from bouncing again in the direction of the racing line within the occasion of one other crash.

The FIA has now determined to take the latter route, with the barrier on the drivers’ left having been moved and positioned at a special angle to cut back the danger of automobiles bouncing again onto the observe.

The governing physique has additionally mandated adjustments to the kerbs of Turns 6 and seven, shifting in the direction of a single specification of a so-called adverse kerb, a kerb which falls away to take a seat decrease than the observe floor, relatively than a raised, optimistic kerb that automobiles climb onto, risking them turning into unsettled and unstable.

The prevailing gravel lure has additionally been prolonged to the sting of the kerbs.

“Following a assessment of final yr’s occasion at Albert Park, a number of adjustments to Flip 6 and Flip 7 have been accredited in collaboration with the native ASN and the grand prix organisers,” an FIA spokesperson confirmed.

“The kerb on the exit of Flip 6 via entry and apex of Flip 7 has been changed with a single specification of adverse kerb.

“This adjustment removes the transition from adverse to optimistic kerb that was current on this space, which beforehand had been addressed by native modification (grinding) of the kerb to offer a smoother transition between kerb varieties. The intent is to take away the potential for this transition destabilising a automobile.

“Moreover, the gravel lure now extends to the again of the kerb and the barrier on the left-hand aspect of Flip 7 has additionally been moved and re-profiled to mitigate the potential for a automobile coming to relaxation ready close to the racing line following an influence with the vitality absorbing barrier on this space.

“These adjustments have been proposed primarily based on suggestions from the FIA Security Division following their ongoing evaluation of all circuits, in addition to enter from drivers and groups. They purpose to offer enchancment in security while sustaining nook dynamics and thrilling racing.”

The adjustments are more likely to be effectively obtained by the drivers, who had already been urging the FIA to make adjustments ultimately yr’s drivers’ briefing.

“The nook [itself] is superb, in all probability the most effective corners on that circuit, so I would not need to see that nook modified,” Russell stated after his crash. “However all circuits which have the boundaries in sure positions, if it should propel you again onto the circuit, that is clearly not good.

“We do not need to have massive runoffs. Simply the place of that wall, even when it is nearer to the observe however in step with the circuit, no less than you would not bounce off onto the racing line.”

Using a single, steady sort of adverse kerb can be one thing Albon had already advocated after his observe smash, explaining the transition to a better kerb had contributed to him shedding management as his Williams bottomed out.

“It is sort of a double-stepped kerb on the exit and particularly as we now have these low automobiles now, we will use the primary little bit of kerb, however in case you go too far throughout and also you hit the second sort of ramp part, it forces the automobile into the air,” he stated.