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TZID:Australia/Melbourne
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BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:74@smartiesracing.au
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne;VALUE=DATE:20260304
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne;VALUE=DATE:20260309
DTSTAMP:20260310T023806Z
URL:https://smartiesracing.au/events/2026-f1-australia/
SUMMARY:2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix
DESCRIPTION:Michael spent 4 days at Turn 1 at the Formula 1 Qatar Airways A
 ustralian Grand Prix 2026.\n\nThursday was dedicated to the support catego
 ries with Porsche Carrera Cup and Supercars on track.  There was also a F
 ormula 2 and a Formula 3 systems check and a display of cars related to Ja
 ck Brabham to celebrate 60 years since his historic Wold Championship win.
 \n\nFriday saw an early start with Formula 3 and 2 practice sessions to ki
 ck the day off.  Formula 1 held their first practice session just after m
 idday before F3 and F2 cam back out for their qualifying.  The day was ro
 unded out with F1 practice 2\, a Supercars race and a Porsche Carrera Cup 
 race.\n\nSaturday rolled around with the team at Turn 1 wondering when the
  cork would pop.  With no incidents occurring at this turn for 2 days\, i
 t felt like something was building.  The day started with Supercars quali
 fying and was quickly followed by the Formula 3 Sprint Race which was cut 
 short due to an incident on the far side of the track.  Formula 1 Practic
 e was halted with Kimi Antonelli clipping the curb at Turn 1 and hitting t
 he wall at Turn 2.  The intervention marshals at Turn 1 were dispatched t
 o assist with the cleanup\, but after being asked to assist the Light Pane
 l Operator\, Michael wasn't able to get on track for the cleanup.  The Fo
 rmula 2 race was uneventful at Turn 1\, but during Formula 1 Qualifying th
 e flag post was well and truely woken up when Max Verstappen skidded acros
 s the gravel and into the wall.  Michael assisted with the recovery effor
 t and then used to opportunity to examine the power and neutral control on
  the nose of the car and the extinguisher pull on the side of the car.  A
 s qualifying continued the Mercedes of Antonelli dropped a couple of cooli
 ng fans on the track\, one landed in the gravel at Turn 1 and was still op
 erating after one of the other intervention marshals retrieved it.  Super
 cars and Carrera Cup finished off the day with no further major incidents.
 \n\nSunday kicked off with Formula 3\, Supercars and Formula 2.  Supercar
 s had a significant first corner incident\, but with the rapid deployment 
 of the crane trucks and tilt-trays from Turn 2 the race was quickly resume
 d without any intervention from the Turn 1 marshals.  Michael and the oth
 er marshals were trackside for the Formula 1 drivers parade where Michael 
 was far more interested in the Mini Mokes than the drivers.  The day cont
 inued with Formula 1 and no significant incidents near the Turn 1 marshal 
 post.  The event drew to a close with a Marshals' dinner where Michael wa
 s appreciative of the Motorsport Australia board members helping to serve 
 drinks and interacting with the marshals.\n\nAt the Marshals' Dinner\, Mic
 hael had the chance to meet Tenesha R who is a significant promoter of mot
 orsport officiating and also had the opportunity to thank Kimberly Hughes 
 for her work with Motorsport Australia before she moves to Supercars.\n\n[
 gallery columns="4" link="file" ids="2483\,2484\,2485\,2486" orderby="rand
 "]
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smartiesracing.au/wp-content/uploads/202
 5/11/f1-melb.png
CATEGORIES:Circuit
LOCATION:Albert Park Circuit\, 12 Aughtie Drive\, Albert Park\, Victoria\, 
 3206\, Australia
GEO:-37.849985;144.969528
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=12 Aughtie Drive\, Albert P
 ark\, Victoria\, 3206\, Australia;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Albert Park C
 ircuit:geo:-37.849985,144.969528
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TZID:Australia/Melbourne
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BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
DTSTART:20251005T030000
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