New Formula 1 Season Begins In Melbourne, Australia

The 2016-17 Formula 1 racing world championship will get underway March 19 at Albert Park.

Melbourne has hosted the opening weekend of the Formula 1 world championship since 2010, and reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to repeat the success of last year. Hamilton won the 2015 edition of the race by a comfortable margin, and went on to dominate the season for his team, Mercedes.

That said, he was pushed hard by teammate Nico Rosberg at certain points of the season, and Rosberg will be hoping this time around he can break Hamilton’s recent domination of the sport. Rosberg and other competitors may be helped by a number of regulatory changes, including the introduction of a new elimination-style qualifying format.

Formula 1 has received growing criticism in recent years, with fans deserting the sport as it has become far duller and more predictable than in years past. Current F1 head honcho Bernie Ecclestone promised more exciting racing this season thanks to the new qualifying format and new rules designed to make cars louder, faster and more aggressive.

While Mercedes and Hamilton are expected to have another strong season, it is hoped the rule changes will make races less predictable. However, if you are in Melbourne, it’s worth heading down to the circuit to take in the spectacle for yourself.

Most people have only ever seen F1 racing on television, and it can get slightly tedious. But surrounded by screaming fans and listening to the deafening roar of the engines, the sport promises a completely different proposition.