Ten of the best pictures from the curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix weekend.
Daniel Ricciardo
Whether signing heads or posing for pictures, Daniel Ricciardo was unmistakeably the centre of attention at his home grand prix.
Daniil Kvyat
Ricciardo’s new team mate Daniil Kvyat made an early start on the unenviable task of trying to get a Renault-powered anything to lap Albert Park quickly. He established the first production car lap record for the circuit at the wheel of a Renault Megane R.S. 275 Trophy-R – his time of 2’23 was less than a minute off his qualifying time in the Red Bull-Renault RB11.
Kevin Magnussen
Kevin Magnussen was back in the cockpit of a McLaren in place of the injured Fernando Alonso. Unfortunately he failed to take the start after his Honda engine failed spectacularly on his reconnaissance lap.
Drivers’ pre-season photograph
The drivers assembled for their annual pre-season photograph.
Start
By the time the lights went out on the first race of the season the thin 20-car field had been pared back to just 15. While the Mercedes disappeared up the road, Romain Grosjean’s Lotus sunk to the back of the field with a power unit glitch and the sister car of Pastor Maldonado was about to drop out in a collision with Felipe Nasr.
Carlos Sainz Jnr
Carlos Sainz Jnr scatters leaves and sparks. The camera seems to love him – here’s a few bonus pictures:
Nico Hulkenberg
A helicopter follows Nico Hulkenberg’s progress in the Force India.
Felipe Nasr
Sauber didn’t run at all in the first practice session as their cars were under threat of being impounded due to a legal action brought by Giedo van der Garde. However once they got running the C34s looked much more competitive thanks to their improved Ferrari power unit, and rookie Nasr came home an impressive fifth.
Carlos Sainz Jnr
Sainz (that man again) emerges from his Toro Rosso having parked up behind the rest of the field. He came home ninth in the race, meaning two of F1’s newcomers scored points in their first race.
Lewis Hamilton
Race winner Hamilton was head and shoulders above the rest in more ways than one in Melbourne.
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vvans
17th March 2015, 12:15
What a picture!! (The one with with Sainz and all the rear wings).
It reminds me a bit of when you go karting, and all the go-karts are in a line and you can make your pic with your friends simply by taking a seat in one. I imagine everyone would run for the Mercs!
PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
17th March 2015, 12:26
It’s a great picture indeed.
DonSmee (@david-beau)
17th March 2015, 19:36
Reminds me of Skittles… Taste the rainbow!
PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
17th March 2015, 12:25
My mother upon seeing the necklace Hamilton wore during the talks with the BBC;
I swiftly responded with #swag #NOTblessed.
Woody (@woodyd91)
17th March 2015, 14:40
You replied to your mom with a hashtag?
Scepter (@scepter)
17th March 2015, 15:14
Wow wearing a gold chain suddenly makes you’re a rapper, and to think just 2 hours ago he was a race car driver, when he wears a 3 piece suit i guess he’ll be that Banker dude with Schwarzenegger.
Supremacy (@supremacy)
17th March 2015, 17:10
:D
ECWDanSelby (@ecwdanselby)
17th March 2015, 13:41
If anyone wants to see what the Toro Rosso looks like with a fatter/lower rear wing, bigger rear tyres, and a more normal front wing…..:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s8ux0hoj8bvveuq/renault-6.png?dl=0
Pretty gorgeous!
Lindsay
17th March 2015, 15:27
Ohhhhh this needs to happen for real, very quickly. That looks so much better!
Foosa
17th March 2015, 16:34
@ecwdanselby Hats off to you sir
ECWDanSelby (@ecwdanselby)
17th March 2015, 17:27
Thank you very much, guys. Took me about 40 minutes, but happy to edit any shots people want me to try.
ECWDanSelby (@ecwdanselby)
17th March 2015, 21:23
And now with a narrow front wing…!:
http://s12.postimg.org/nphjwmblp/renault_6_copy2.png
ECWDanSelby (@ecwdanselby)
17th March 2015, 22:52
And the final edit, the chassis is now wider. Here’s a GIF animation showing before and after:
http://postimg.org/image/47mtha0yn/
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
17th March 2015, 14:03
The drivers’ annual photo won’t be among the top ten pictures with them all squinting into the sun like that…and sure enough, most of their faces are in shadow from their caps! Truly craptastic.
Love the eye-in-the-sky shot of Hülkenberg. Was the cameraman in a second helicopter, or are the cranes that high?
Diego (@ironcito)
17th March 2015, 14:16
I would think that it’s a second helicopter or something like a blimp or a small airplane.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
17th March 2015, 14:43
But did he complain about drivability?!
Patrick (@paeschli)
17th March 2015, 15:54
That line killed me! :D
I love the last Carlos Sainz Jnr pic.
Sire Adrian Dennis
17th March 2015, 15:05
sir why did you delete my post?
sumedh
17th March 2015, 16:52
How is the helicopter picture of Hulk taken? Isn’t there just one TV helicopter for races? To shoot such a picture, we would need 2 helicopters.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
17th March 2015, 18:46
it was Superman, actually. He’s working part time with Sutton
DavidS (@davids)
18th March 2015, 6:58
There are many helicopters circling the venue. That one in the picture is the TV one, and flies pretty low.
Andy (@andycz)
17th March 2015, 18:15
I’m just worried about Lewis. That chain and gravity can may cause his fall right on the asphalt…
SauberS1 (@saubers1)
17th March 2015, 22:59
The first picture is really funny. :D
Erivaldo moreira (@erivaldonin)
17th March 2015, 23:38
greats pictures