Australian Grand Prix - Race Briefing

G’day from Australia!

Shell Trackside Analyst Mark Farley here. It’s Friday morning Australian time and I’m writing this blog from inside the Shell Track Lab, the mobile laboratory we set-up inside one of the Ferrari transporters at each race. Lisa (Lilley, Shell Technology Manager for Ferrari) and Dan (Jamieson, Shell Trackside Analyst) are here too, working around me as a write, checking all the equipment and making sure everything is ready for the race weekend ahead.

The first race of a new season is always special, but it’s even more so this year because Kimi won his first ever race with Ferrari here last March - on his way to his first World Championship title! I just put my head outside the door and things are really buzzing in the Paddock, with everyone rushing around getting ready for free practice. I can hear the engines revving in the Ferrari garage - it’s so great to be back at the track, after four months away!

Apart from setting-up the Shell Track Lab, in the last few days we have been busy preparing the Shell V-Power fuel and Shell Helix lubricants which Ian (Albiston, Shell Formula One Project Manager) shipped all the way from the UK. In February we sent two tonnes of products in special tamper-proof containers to avoid contamination – and they arrived at the circuit just before we did. It took some 50 technical people to develop, test and approve all of the products to meet the Australia deadline, so it was a true logistical challenge for Ian and the rest of the team!

The Shell Track Lab has been refurbished for the season, with some new technical equipment installed to help us analyse the fuel and oil samples from the F2008 in even greater detail this year. Before the next race in Malaysia we’ll give you a bit more detail about the new analysis gear we’ve got to help ensure we meet the new regulations.

Cheers until next time, Mark