Lando Norris took pole position for the Australian GP ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri. McLaren looked to be ahead of the field with a significant margin during the qualifying session. While they were the class of the field on Saturday, race day could prove to derail their weekend.
The weather forecasts predict changeable conditions for the race window, with some models saying it could be heavy. There is also reportedly a chance thunderstorms could hit the track for lights out. And the FIA is considering all options to get the race underway.
FIA could move Australian Grand Prix start time
During the driver’s briefing on Friday, they were reportedly told the race’s start time might have to be changed. This was due to the threat of thunderstorms and heavy rain throughout the day. This would disrupt the day’s race program, including races for the junior formulas.
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With the rain predicted, the FIA have contingency plans in place. This is after the 2021 Belgium Grand Prix, where heavy rain meant just three laps were completed behind the safety car. Due to the race start being at 3 pm local time, the race would need to be brought forward.
Although there is the possibility of a change in the start time for the Australian Grand Prix, there is still hope based on how the weather changes in the coming hours. If the rain forecast shows only light rain during the start time, the FIA will continue with the scheduled time.
Who will thrive in wet conditions at the Australian GP?
The rain will give Max Verstappen the chance to outperform the car to win the race. Rain levels the field and will wipe out McLaren’s dominant advantage to the grid. Last season, at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen excelled in the wet conditions while McLaren and Norris floundered.
Another rain master is Lewis Hamilton, who will want to impress on his Ferrari debut. Ferrari had a disappointing qualifying and so will be looking for the heavens to open to help move them forward.
The rain will also be a chance for drivers who underqualified their cars. Liam Lawson and Kimi Antonelli exited Q1 while their teammates qualified on the second row. The rain could be a chance for them to move through the field. However, it will be a massive challenge for all the rookies on the grid. Last year, rookie Franco Colapinto crashed his car in his first wet race in Brazil.
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The smaller teams like Alpine or Williams could see this as an opportunity to get on the podium. The carnage in Brazil saw Alpine get a double podium, which propelled the French team up the standings.
Will the rain hit during the race window? If so, we can expect a crazy race. Who will the rain help the most, and who will it hinder? Leave your comments below.
