The 2014 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is Sunday, March 14, at 1:30 am EDT on NBC Sports. For race fans out there that will not have access to NBC Sports when the lights go out, be sure to catch the live stream online by signing up for NBC Sports LiveExtra here.
The Australian GP at Melbourne will be the first Formula 1 under the new 2014 regulations. Given the significant technical changes on the new cars, the teams aren't only concerned about winning the race, but whether their cars will finish the race at all. New technology and packaging has made the new cars rather fragile and reliable will be an important factor for the Sunday race.
“This year, is very different because of the technical regulations," explained Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso. "Last year, we started the season with a car at 95 per cent of total performance and found five per cent over the rest of the year. This time, everybody is starting at 60 per cent because the cars are too new for everybody and many things can improve for everybody, not only for us. We just need to work harder, work better.”
“We are starting fifth, so we just need to make two positions to achieve that goal,” said Alonso when asked if a podium was possible. “It's a bit easier than starting further behind, but you can't take finishing the race for granted as we were doing in the last couple of years. Then, if you started fifth, looking at the podium was quite okay but, this year, in particular this first race, our first priority is finishing.
“If that sounds pessimistic, I am sure it is the same for all the drivers - even the guy on pole position cannot be 100 per cent sure he will finish the race.
“We will just try and do everything possible from our side - make no mistakes, take care of every detail - and make sure we cross the line. I am sure a podium can arrive if we are competitive but, if we are not competitive for whatever reason - if we go slow in the race, or struggle with the tyres, or the fuel or whatever - there will be three people in front of you. Our priority, as I said, is to finish the race.”
As the grid had already expected, Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes has taken a commanding pole with the fastest time of 1:44.234s. That said, Hamilton denied that the pole was his to lose.
"Today was so much harder for everyone in these conditions," Hamilton said. "These cars are a lot harder to drive in the wet and the first time for me driving this car in the rain. To be up here is a great showing for the team."
Of course, the most astonishing result of Q3 was Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo's impressive second place qualifying finish. The 24-year-old Red Bull driver was only 0.3 seconds slower in the wet than the Mercedes despite frustratingly pessimistic preseason tests.
Be sure to watch the pole winning lap as well as the full starting grid for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. The 2014 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is Sunday, March 14, at 1:30 am EDT on NBC Sports. For race fans out there that will not have access to NBC Sports when the lights go out, be sure to catch the live stream online by signing up for NBC Sports LiveExtra here.
1. Lewis Hamilton Britain Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 44.231s
2. Daniel Ricciardo Australia Red Bull-Renault 1m 44.548s
3. Nico Rosberg Germany Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 44.595s
4. Kevin Magnussen Denmark McLaren-Mercedes 1m 45.745s
5. Fernando Alonso Spain Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 45.819s
6. Jean-Eric Vergne France Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 45.864s
7. Nico Hulkenberg Germany Force India-Mercedes 1m 46.030s
8. Daniil Kvyat Russia Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 47.368s
9. Felipe Massa Brazil Williams-Mercedes 1m 48.079s
10. Valtteri Bottas Finland Williams-Mercedes 1m 48.147s*
11. Jenson Button Britain McLaren-Mercedes 1m 44.437s
12. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 44.494s
13. Sebastian Vettel Germany Red Bull-Renault 1m 44.668s
14. Adrian Sutil Germany Sauber-Ferrari 1m 45.655s
15. Kamui Kobayashi Japan Caterham-Renault 1m 45.867s
16. Sergio Perez Mexico Force India-Mercedes 1m 47.293s
17. Max Chilton Briton Marussia-Ferrari 1m 34.293s
18. Jules Bianchi France Marussia-Ferrari 1m 34.794s
19. Esteban Gutierrez Mexico Sauber-Ferrari 1m 35.117s*
20. Marcus Ericsson Sweden Caterham-Renault 1m 35.157s
21. Romain Grosjean France Lotus-Renault 1m 36.993s
22. Pastor Maldonado Venezuela Lotus-Renault no time
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