Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

Why Rally Finland victory means as much as a WRC title to Pajari

WRC
Rally Finland
Why Rally Finland victory means as much as a WRC title to Pajari

Paddon secures extra Hyundai WRC outing in 2026

WRC
Rally del Paraguay
Paddon secures extra Hyundai WRC outing in 2026

The deep and lasting significance of the McLaren MP4/4’s forgotten older brother

Feature
Formula 1
The deep and lasting significance of the McLaren MP4/4’s forgotten older brother

WRC Finland: Pajari claims back-to-back WRC victories

WRC
Rally Finland
WRC Finland: Pajari claims back-to-back WRC victories

KTM might drop Vinales with immediate effect

MotoGP
British GP
KTM might drop Vinales with immediate effect

Supercars Perth: Payne outduels Feeney for victory

Supercars
Perth Super 440
Supercars Perth: Payne outduels Feeney for victory

Verstappen's mindset going into the F1 summer break: "Of course I can easily stop, but I love racing"

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Verstappen's mindset going into the F1 summer break: "Of course I can easily stop, but I love racing"

Voting is open in Autosport Best of the Month for July 2026

General
Voting is open in Autosport Best of the Month for July 2026

Australia preview quotes: Bridgestone

Hiroshi Yasukawa, director of Bridgestone Motorsport: It is always a pleasure to visit Australia, which is a very important market for Bridgestone. The people of Melbourne always give us a great welcome and the Australian Grand Prix gains substantial attention all around the world

Hirohide Hamashima - Bridgestone director of motorsport tyre development: As we saw last season, Albert Park can present many challenges. This is the first race of the season held on a non-permanent circuit. We expect to see a lot of track improvement over the course of the weekend, which makes finding a good set-up difficult.

The track evolution is also an important factor when deciding which tyre strategy to use. We have moved our allocations a step harder for this season, which should mean tyre management is not as challenging as in 2009. Melbourne is very severe for graining and even bringing this harder allocation, competitors have to take care of tyre set-up.

We think the performance difference between prime and option will be bigger than it was in Bahrain. Also, you can never be certain of the Melbourne weather, so a lot of time will be spent looking at the skies.

Previous article Melbourne boss Walker has surgery
Next article Webber denies pondering retirement

Top Comments