Albert Park is the first track of the F1 2017 career, so this is the setup most people need first. It is a medium downforce one: front wing 5, rear wing 7, a locked differential and a stiff front bar.
It is a time trial setup, saved with 10 kg of fuel. The full menu is below, then why it works in Melbourne and what I would change for a race or on a pad.
F1 2017 Australia setup
| Setting | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Wing | 5 | 7 |
| Differential (on / off throttle) | 100% | 80% |
| Camber | -2.50 | -1.00 |
| Toe | 0.05 | 0.20 |
| Suspension | 7 | 6 |
| Anti-roll bar | 9 | 4 |
| Ride height | 5 | 5 |
| Tyre pressure | 23.0 psi | 21.1 psi |
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel load | 10 kg |
| Brake pressure | 82% |
| Front brake bias | 54% |
| Ballast | 10 |
In F1 2017 the wings, suspension, anti-roll bars, ride height and ballast all use a scale from 1 to 11.
This setup was collected for the site in 2022 from a fast time trial lap, like the rest of my F1 2017 setups. Take it as a starting point, not as the last word.
Why this setup works in Melbourne
Albert Park in F1 2017 is the old layout: 5.303 km and 16 corners on park roads around a lake. Short straights, a lot of medium speed corners, two chicanes and walls close to the track.
The wings. You are never flat for long, so drag costs less here than at Shanghai or Baku. That is why this setup runs two clicks more wing at both ends than my F1 2017 China setup, which is 3 and 5. The rear is two clicks above the front, so the rear always has a bit more grip than the front and the car stays calm in the fast left and right at turn 11 and 12.
The bars. Front 9, rear 4. The stiff front bar makes the car answer quickly at turn 1 and 2 and in the two chicanes. The soft rear bar keeps both rear tyres on the ground when you go to the throttle out of turn 3, turn 10 and turn 15.
The ride height. 5 and 5, the middle of the scale. The track is a public road for most of the year. It is bumpy and you use the kerbs in nearly every corner, so there is no point running the car on the floor.
Differential and brakes
The on throttle differential is at 100%, fully locked. Both rear wheels push together, which gives the best drive in a straight line. The price is that the car wants to go straight when you pick up the throttle, and the inside rear tyre gets dragged across the track. For one lap that is fine. Over a stint it eats the rears.
Off throttle it is 80%. That is quite locked too, so the rear stays stable when you lift into turn 11.
The brakes are at 82% pressure with 54% at the front. That is on the soft side, and I like it here. Melbourne has many short braking zones on a bumpy surface, and a locked front tyre into turn 1 or turn 3 puts you in the gravel or in the wall.
What to change
Change one thing at a time and do three laps before you judge it. If you change two things you never know which one worked.
| Problem | Change | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Understeer in the fast turn 11 and 12 | Front wing 5 to 6 | More front grip at high speed, where the wing does the work |
| Understeer in the slow corners | Front anti-roll bar 9 to 7 | A softer front bar gives the front tyres more grip at low speed |
| Wheelspin out of turn 3, turn 9 or turn 15 | On throttle differential 100% to 85% | The inside rear wheel spins less when the two wheels are not locked together |
| Rear is nervous in turn 11 and 12 | Rear wing 7 to 8 | More rear downforce. Albert Park has no long straight, so it costs little |
| Front tyres lock into turn 1 or turn 3 | Brake pressure 82% to 78% | Less peak pressure, easier to control without ABS |
| Car jumps on the kerbs at turn 9 and 10 | Suspension 7 and 6 to 6 and 5 | Softer springs take the kerb instead of throwing the car |
For a race
The time trial setup is too hard on the rear tyres for a race distance. Three changes I would make before a 25% or 50% race:
- On throttle differential 100% to 85%. The biggest one. The rear tyres last longer and the car is easier out of the slow corners on full tanks.
- Rear wing 7 to 8. With fuel in the car the rear moves more in turn 11 and 12. One click settles it and costs almost nothing on these straights.
- Fuel. The 10 kg is a time trial number. In a race the game sets the load for the distance.
On a pad, I would also take the brake pressure down to around 78% and keep the differential at 85%. It is hard to be gentle with a trigger.
Where the lap time is in Melbourne
- Turn 1 and turn 2. A fast right and left at the end of the main straight. Brake late and short, turn in once, and let the car run to the exit kerb of turn 2. The wall on the outside is close.
- Turn 3. The biggest braking zone of the lap and the best place to pass. Brake in a straight line. The exit matters more than the entry, because turn 4 comes at once.
- Turn 6. A quick right between the walls. A short brake and a lot of trust.
- Turn 9 and turn 10. A slow right and left chicane. Easy to overdrive. Go in slow, use the kerbs, and get on the throttle early for the fastest part of the track.
- Turn 11 and turn 12. The fast left and right. This is where the lap is won or lost. Lift a little before the corner, not in it, and keep the steering smooth. If you turn more, you only slide more.
- Turn 13. A hard stop after the fast section, on a bumpy surface.
- Turn 15 and turn 16. A slow left and then the right onto the main straight. Be patient in 15 so you can be flat early through 16.
On a track with walls, build up to the limit. I tell karting drivers the same thing on a new circuit: start from too slow and add speed each lap. From too fast, the only way you find the limit is the wall.
Melbourne in 2017
The real 2017 Australian Grand Prix was the first round of the season, on 26 March. Lewis Hamilton took pole in 1:22.188 for Mercedes, but Sebastian Vettel won the race for Ferrari, with Hamilton second and Valtteri Bottas third. It was the first race for the wider, faster 2017 cars, the ones you drive in the game.
More F1 2017 setups
All 20 tracks are in my F1 2017 setups table. The next rounds are the F1 2017 China setup and the F1 2017 Bahrain setup.
For the same track in other games, here are my F1 2018 Australia setup and my F1 25 Australia setup. The values do not carry over from one game to the next.
FAQ
What is the best wing setup for Australia in F1 2017?
Front wing 5 and rear wing 7 for time trial. For a race I would go to 8 at the rear to settle the car on full tanks.
Why is the differential at 100% on throttle?
A locked differential gives the best traction in a straight line. It wears the rear tyres faster, so open it to around 85% for a race.
Does this setup work with a controller?
Yes. I would lower the brake pressure to around 78% and the on throttle differential to 85% so the car is easier on the triggers.
What tyre pressures should I use in Melbourne?
23.0 psi front and 21.1 psi rear.
Where can I overtake at Albert Park in F1 2017?
Into turn 3, with DRS on the run from turn 2. Turn 1 and turn 13 are the other options.
Can I use this setup in the wet?
Not as it is. For rain I would add two or three clicks of wing at both ends, raise the ride height by one and open the on throttle differential.
How long is the Melbourne track in F1 2017?
5.303 km with 16 corners. It is the layout from before the track was changed in 2022.