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Reigning Formula One World Champion, SEBASTIAN VETTEL, is the poster boy for the season opener race in Melbourne Australia. His signature pose is on the posters and all things F1-related.
Vettell’s Red Bull Racing teammate, MARK WEBBER, is also being shown around town, courtesy of Qantas, for whom he is an Official Ambassador. The portrayals all have him smiling, champagne celebrating, etc. Much is being made of the second Aussie driver on the grid this season – DANIEL RICCIARDO, who switched from last year’s HRT to this year’s junior Re Bull Team, Scuderia Toro Rosso. First time two Aussies in F1.
Another bragging point is the six World Champions in the field this year – unprecedented. Vettell, JENSON BUTTON and LEWIS HAMILTON/Vodafone Mercedes McLaren, FERNANDO ALONSO/Scuderia Ferrari, MICHAEL SCHUMACHER/Mercedes AMG Petronas, and KIMI RAIKKONEN/Lotus F1 Team. Schumacher returned two seasons ago after retiring, and now Raikkonen is coming out of F1 retirement to run again.
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Monday the F1 pit lane was well on its way to being set up. The cars had arrived at Avalon the previous Thursday and by Monday all the garages were painted up with graphics, logos and team names. Being the first race of the year helped.
The Pit Lane looked to me to be filling up like the boarding of an aircraft – from the back forward. The far end of Pit Lane was bustling, crates unloaded and a car here and there already unpacked. At the front of Pit Lane, the RBR garage was mostly shut, with no crates in front – rather empty and forlorn.
The weather was beautiful and one would hope it would last.