F1: Australian GP track tweaked after heavy 2024 crashes

The FIA and native organisers have made security modifications 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 follow.

Among the many choices thought of to make the nook safer embrace a re-profiling to scale back nook speeds as soon as once more, including an asphalt run-off space as a substitute of a gravel entice, or adjusting the limitations behind the nook to attempt to forestall vehicles 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 scale back the danger of vehicles bouncing again onto the observe.

The governing physique has additionally mandated modifications to the kerbs of Turns 6 and seven, transferring in the direction of a single specification of a so-called damaging kerb, a kerb which falls away to sit down decrease than the observe floor, quite than a raised, optimistic kerb that vehicles climb onto, risking them changing into unsettled and unstable.

The present gravel entice has additionally been prolonged to the sting of the kerbs.

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

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

“This adjustment removes the transition from damaging 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 sorts. The intent is to take away the potential of this transition destabilising a automobile.

“Moreover, the gravel entice 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 of a automobile coming to relaxation able close to the racing line following an impression with the vitality absorbing barrier on this space.

“These modifications 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 goal to offer enchancment in security while sustaining nook dynamics and thrilling racing.”

The modifications are more likely to be effectively acquired by the drivers, who had already been urging the FIA to make modifications eventually yr’s drivers’ briefing.

“The nook [itself] is superb, in all probability probably the greatest corners on that circuit, so I would not need to see that nook modified,” Russell mentioned after his crash. “However all circuits which have the limitations 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 according to the circuit, at the very least you would not bounce off onto the racing line.”

The usage of a single, steady kind of damaging kerb can also be one thing Albon had already advocated after his follow smash, explaining the transition to a better kerb had contributed to him shedding management as his Williams bottomed out.

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