Hamilton and Vettel fired up to fight for world title

Most Formula One fans will wish for a more competitive series this year after Mercedes swept the drivers’ and constructors’ championships for the last three seasons running.

Vettel split the Silver Arrows, but Ferrari were not the outright pacesetters – a position they had enjoyed at pre-season testing at Spain’s Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya earlier in the year.

Drivers will need to pile on muscle to handle these new, aggressive machines and have been beefing up in pre-season, rather than slimming down.

The Australian race itself is one of the best on the calendar, not only because it’s the first time that we get to see how the teams perform with their new setups but also because of the friendly atmosphere, normally fine weather, and challenging Albert Park street circuit.

The teams had two hours to fine-tune before the first qualifying session of the season started at 5 p.m. local time (0600 GMT).

Hamilton’s time of 1:23.620 beat Schumacher’s lap record set in 2004 by half a second and was seven seconds quicker than his fastest here two years ago.

2009 champion Jenson Button has also left but four previous titleholders remain – three-time victor Lewis Hamilton, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), 2007 victor Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) and two-time champion Fernando Alonso (McLaren).

The new regulations for 2017 allowed for wider tires with more grip and durability, greater aerodynamics, bigger fuel loads and increased downforce. So far, so good.

There are “too many dudes” in the paddock at Formula One races and the series needs to improve access for women, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday.

“I’m fine”, Palmer told his team over the radio.

The new rules also made some changes in the engine token system. The Force Indias of Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon were split by the McLarens of Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne, but as was the case with most of the field, all three failed to set a competitive time on the ultra-softs.

“People are fired up”, he said. “We’ll see tomorrow how it really stands”.

Hamilton started from pole position here a year ago but finished second to Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in the Grand Prix.

For once, all eyes will not be on the Mercedes of Hamilton, but the “other” Mercedes of Bottas.

Local hope Daniel Ricciardo slid his Red Bull rear first into the gravel and stopped at turn 14, and walked off the track as the red flag came out – causing a suspension of the last qualifying run.

Bottas momentarily held top stop before Hamilton’s improvement despite a scruffy final flying lap, with Vettel then denying Mercedes a front row lockout by posting the second fastest time on his final run.

Blighted by a seal problem in FP1, Palmer’s second session ended quickly as he skidded out at turn 16 and slammed into a barrier, scattering debris on the track and raising a red flag until his wrecked auto was winched off. The U.S. Grand Prix, which is on October 22 this year, is a favorite among drivers and fans because the Circuit of the America produces great racing.