Track changes to Turn 6 now seem inevitable following recent crashes since the major changes a couple of years ago increased speeds.
As it stands Albert Park now has a higher average speed than Spa, just over 250 kph. Only Jeddah and Monza now have higher average lap speeds
Several possibilities for altering the corner are now being considered for F1's return to Albert Park next year, which follows calls from the drivers even before George Russell and Albons latest high-profile incidents at the corner..
Turn 6 was among the corners changed as part of the Melbourne event's major re-profiling ahead of its post-pandemic return to the F1 calendar in 2022.
As part of this, the right-hander's racing line was opened up and so made considerably faster before it feeds into a long acceleration zone. Its now a 6th gear 250kph corner with barely a lift (unless you name is Fernando and you are 'trying something different'
)
Options apparently now being considered for changing the corner include a re-profiling to reduce car speeds there, adding an asphalt runoff area to the outside instead of the current gravel trap, or adjusting the barriers behind the corner to try and prevent cars from bouncing back towards the track in the event of another crash.
Interestingly GR doesnt want the corner itself changed, but maybe the angle of the barrier.... the problem being the barrier spits carsback out onto the track.
Russell and Albons comments.
"The corner's amazing, probably one of the best corners on that circuit, so I wouldn't want to see that corner change".
"[But] it's not just that corner," Russell added. "I think all circuits that have the barriers in certain positions, if it's going to propel you back onto the circuit, that's obviously not good.
"And we don't want to have big runoffs. We don't want to have [asphalt] runoffs.
"I think everything is correct. Just the position of that wall, even if it's closer to the track but in line with the circuit, at least you wouldn't bounce off into the racing line."
Albon also highlighted the issue of the kerb contributing to his 2024 Melbourne FP1 crash, with the Williams driver explaining how it's "kind of a double-stepped kerb on the exit".
He continued: "And especially as we have these low cars now, everything we touch, we can use the first bit of kerb, but if you go too far across and you hit the second kind of ramp section, it forces the car into the air.
"So, there's two things that could be done better."
Its seems that the
FIA have now got to the point that there will be changes. There is talk of tightening the apex a bit, and even removing a few trees to allow the barrier to be reprofiled (good luck with the local NIMBY's on trimming more than a little branch).
Changes to the angle of the kerb have been mentioned which to me seems the best solution.... flatten it out so it doesnt launch the cars off line at 250kph.
There is a full article with lost of who said what to whom which the above is very much a precis of the key points. If you want that is here:
https://speedcafe.com/albert-park-set-f ... 6-crashes/