Albert Park has traditionally hosted the championship’s opener but was slotted in as the third stop this year after a Middle East doubleheader in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. While the crowds underlined a Netflix-fuelled resurgence of interest in F1, drivers were cool on the race’s scheduling as a standalone week before the series continues in Italy. While Mercedes’ George Russell said Albert Park’s previous scheduling as a season-opener was “cool”, drivers may not be willing to shift from the new arrangement, which has had Bahrain hosting the first race after pre-season testing in the Gulf nation. Australia’s future scheduling may depend on the proximity of other races in its east Asian timezone. “The time for Formula One in Australia is early in the season.”.

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