Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast.

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Hello and a very warm welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast presented by Harry Ead, Sam Sage, and me, Ben Hocking.

We've finally made it.

Hibernation season is over because it's time for the preview, 26 Australian Grand Grand Prix, Sam. Hello, we're doing it. Out of winter we come. I actually crawled out of my little burrow in the garden earlier today when I heard that it was finally over and the son had blessed me with Formula One season. It's here. Harry, I saw you in the burrow next to me, mate. good burrowing. Oh, thank you. I didn't realize we'd actually burrowed during the winter, but... Burrow buddies. Burrow buddies, that's what they call us. I am very excited to be here for this first preview of the season. I've actually just driven all the way back from Cornwall, which I've realised now should have just stayed and done it with Ben, but never mind.

Oh, my planning of this show is sensational.

I had no idea you were even there.

Harry, planning got hands.

It's cornered me there, absolutely snooking me.

Wow, well played, sir.

Good stuff.

Yes, Australian GP.

We're coming out a hibernation finally. The sun was actually out today, which is just weird. It felt like a good omen for today's episode, which is the first preview of 24 this year. Melbourne hosting a season opener for the 24th time since replacing Adelaide as the host of the Australian GP in 1996.

Lando Norris won this race last year for the first time as he kick-started a campaign that, of course,

finished in his first world championship. But no one has gone back to back here since Sebastian Vettel in 2017 and 2018.

The Melbourne track itself comprised of 16 corners with a few

overtaking opportunities, the best of which might be at turn three. Perhaps most interesting

about this circuit is the number of high-speed corners, which will test both the drivers and the

teams. The weather, as of right now looks

pretty dry all weekend. Start contrast, of course, to last year's race. Sunday in particular

is looking quite warm. Temperatures around 26 Celsius. That's 79 Fahrenheit for our American

friends. Let's start this preview with the team that posted the fastest lab in preseason

...