00:01Formula One's new season is set to begin in Melbourne this weekend with organisers confident travel disruptions caused by tensions
00:08in the Middle East will not affect the opening race.
00:13Staff and team members travelling from Europe have been forced to reshuffle flights after their air routes across the region
00:20were impacted, but Australian Grand Prix officials say preparations remain on track at Australia.
00:26Event chief Travis Auld insisted everyone required for the race will arrive in time with charter flights arranged for hundreds
00:34of personnel.
00:35While logistics have dominated the build-up, potential is now turning to what could be one of the most unpredictable
00:42Formula One seasons in years.
00:44New technical regulations are reshaping the competitive order and early expectations suggest a genuine multi-team battle for the championship.
00:54Much of the spotlight is on George Russell, who enters the campaign as one of the leading contenders to claim
01:00a first world title.
01:02In the constructors' battle, Mercedes are tipped by many as early favourites ahead of reigning champions McLaren and Ferrari, reflecting
01:11how the new rule era could reshuffle the grid.
01:14With teams arriving and the grid preparing for lights out in Melbourne, Formula One is ready to move from travel
01:20chaos to racing drama in a championship fight that could go right down to the final race.
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