F1 season heralds fresh approach, new rules and a revived optimism | Giles Richards


Whatever happens at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix there are already good reasons for fans to be excited about the future

The waiting is over and Melbourne is abuzz with anticipation and the feeling, shared by Formula One fans across the world, that this is going to be a big weekend. Friday practice will be the first indicator of pace after the poker hands of testing in Barcelona; Saturday’s qualifying will be cards on the table time to discover who can turn any pace into a hot lap. Race day is crunch time for the teams but this year, with new regulations, it is also going to be a huge moment for the sport. A new start in a new era.

But it is hard not to sense an undertone of unease. What if F1 has got it wrong? Ross Brawn, appointed by the owner, Liberty Media, as Formula One’s director of motorsport, has already made it clear there will be no knee-jerk reactions to an unsuccessful reboot.

Related: Valtteri Bottas: ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I feel no pressure at all’

Related: Toto Wolff: 'Hamilton and Rosberg was more intense than we thought beneficial'

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