Time was when Albert Park was the beloved opening round of every Formula One season, touched by a crisp sunshine and promise of change and new beginnings.
The heat was softened by winds off the Tasman Sea. With apartments lining the back straight, kite surfers danced on the waves while drivers had their breakfast on St Kilda beach before the day’s action.
Swamped by Australia’s fanatical F1 following, Melbourne wasn’t just a race - it was an event. It always felt fresh, exciting, hopeful.
When it was shifted off pole position post-covid, something was broken. Shunted down to third in the calendar after Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, it completed a trio so unique in its make up, performance and results could not be extrapolated across the coming season.
When F1 arrived in Melbourne in 1996 it was very different; 11 of the first 16 winners went on to become champions. But in the last 12 years that has only happened twice.
In fact, an Albert Park victory was as good as the kiss of death. Lewis Hamilton started from pole a remarkable eight times but only won twice.
In fact, his teammates have won more often when he was on pole than he has.
Pacesetters Red Bull return on Sunday as favourites but have to go back over a decade to when Sebastian Vettel was in his pomp to remember what it’s like to triumph at Albert Park.
Max Verstappen may have won 10 of the last 13 Grands Prix (and his team 12 of 13) as well as being pre-race favourite, but he has never been successful here.
New arrival Las Vegas aside, Melbourne is now one of only two circuits in the calendar where he is yet to triumph.
It’s difficult to say why the track is such an outlier, and it’s certainly not for want of trying. Organisers tinker with the layout almost annually, and this year it will be faster and the first to have four DRS zones, turning the race into a battery recharging chess game as much as a contest between cars.
Its street circuit layout is closer than anywhere to the last round in Saudi without being so unrelentingly lethal, which suggests Red Bull’s devastating domination from the Gulf will continue.
Charles Leclerc can attest to Melbourne’s curse. He won last year from pole and achieved the 'grand slam' - taking every session, every lap, pole and victory. It was his second victory in three.
Life could hardly get much better as the stats made him firm title favourite.
He flew back to Europe leading the championship by 34 points but dominance in Bahrain and Australia proved irrelevant to the circuits to come. From the following round in Italy, his season fell apart.
If hopes of a new beginnings remain, it comes from a strange quarter; Red Bull’s capable but unexceptional No 2 Sergio Perez.
That the Mexican held the record as the driver from the current crop to take longest to get to his first pole (215 GPs and over a decade) and first win (190 races) says it all.
Comparisons in the same car as Verstappen over the last two years suggest he is not among the elite. The Dutchman has taken 26 wins, two world titles and 18 poles. Perez just four triumphs and two poles.
But after his latest victory in Saudi a fortnight ago, when he matched Verstappen lap for lap at the end, the Mexican insists he will not be playing also-ran.
Despite helping Verstappen to the 2021 title in Abu Dhabi by slowing Hamilton, the duo have fallen out spectacularly with the Dutchman publicly refusing to help Perez to runners-up spot in Brazil last year.
In Saudi, Perez was furious to discover Verstappen had ignored team instructions to grab fastest lap on the very last tour and retain a slender championship lead.
And there is no point in turning to the rest of the grid; Ferrari are at sea, their speed gone, and Mercedes are entirely off the pace as their chassis redesign continues.
Hamilton’s bid for a record eighth championship is history and he cuts a lonely figure in the paddock now after his unexpected split with physio and trainer-cum-constant companion Angela Cullen.
So it is down to Perez. As Ayrton Senna versus Alain Prost, Vettel and Mark Webber, Hamilton versus Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button or Nico Rosberg have proved, it only takes two drivers to make a championship.
Whether his team will allow Perez to regularly challenge Verstappen is another matter altogether.
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
The five pillars of Islam
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
More on Yemen's civil war
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
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The specs: 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Price, base / as tested Dh97,600
Engine 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight v-twin engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 78hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque 145Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.0L / 100km (estimate)
The biog
Favourite book: You Are the Placebo – Making your mind matter, by Dr Joe Dispenza
Hobby: Running and watching Welsh rugby
Travel destination: Cyprus in the summer
Life goals: To be an aspirational and passionate University educator, enjoy life, be healthy and be the best dad possible.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
