The Melbourne Grand Prix has finally arrived. But with qualifying not until Saturday, it’s in its warm-up laps so to speak. The grandstands are sparse and the die hard fans have all chucked a sickie just so maybe they get the opportunity to meet their favourite drivers before they get down to business.

So we got familiar with the track & the activities all in preparation as we countdown to Sunday, when the big show finally arrives. Here’s how day one rolled out:

What has become of the breakfast of champions? Once a protein-laden meal lathered with lard, hashbrowns and multiple sauces, the bacon, steak, potatoes and eggs of generations past have now given way for some form of unrecognisable muesli. I mean, we’re no experts, but isn’t muesli supposed to oats? F1 streamlining at its best.

Yeah, we shot this from a tram. Melbourne City offering free rides to the course and back all day. #Melbourne mornings #nofilter #actualcamera

With F1 cars not hitting the track until today, yesterday was all about re-visiting Australia’s motorsports past. Among the Ferraris and dune buggies, we found this – a class 1980s Falcon. Chances are someone in your family had one of these when you were a kid or you were conceived in one.

Trackside. Pretty self explanatory, gang.

The weekday drive for F1 drivers – a $3.5million Ferrari. 

Red back spider. This thing is deadly on every level.

A Porche Le Mans-style racer. Fun fact, George Jetson drove one of these.

This is the NSW Police Porche that patrols Double Bay and Point Piper. Word has it residents petitioned to have only European cars allowed in the exclusive area – and none older than 2010.

Desperados. The real fanatics waiting it out to get a glimpse and perhaps a wave from their favourite drivers. This is about two hours in. And take it from us, the kids weren’t stoked.

McLaren star and beau to the hottest babe in pit lane, Jenson Button strikes a casual pose. This set-up pic took 27 minutes for him to relax.

LWA spotted on the main stage. Reverse pap.

Standard fare at any F1 show, the F1 cars of the sky in an aerobatic show. Cool to watch but the noise they produce is a pain in the ass if you wanna have a chat without choking on someone’ tongue.

Kimi Räikkönen – or more likely, a hired doppleganger – at a signing. The Ice Man ain’t no fan of this shit. But man, can he drive.

Pen to paper, the wait was worth it.

A new team. A new beginning. Considered somewhat surly, Sebastian Vettel shows his lighter side and returns from the signing to give a desperate fan an autograph. No luck when we asked him to sign our bra.

Fans get their hands on the prize. Dad’s got no shame having a random punter snap a pic of him with the F1 trophy that he’ll likely convince Mom to throw up on FB #worldchampiondad

The calm before the storm. Come the weekend, these empty chairs will experience more collective weight upon them than the floorboards in the Biggest Loser house. They will be packed.

A few babes biding their time before the Johnny Walker party tonight.

A throwback to the late 1980s and ’90s when Godzilla ruled the black top.

Grid girls. They’re paid to hang out with punters and put up with their sleazy gazes and creepy pics. Guess that’s second hand prostitution? Only without anything untoward of course. 

Dad’s about to let fire a few profanities at his least favorite drivers. Preps up the kid to make sure he doesn’t hear a word.

V8 Supercars on track for their first practice session as the curtain raiser for the main show.

Sneak peak. This player won’t be fenced in. No one puts a motorsports fan in the corner. Except the security guard who ripped him down within seconds of this shot. #fightthepower

Now, this is a photo scrum. Without doubt, harder to hustle for pics than any festival we’ve ever covered. But the good news was, no sweaty, shirtless meatheads to contend with. 

Russian prodigy Daniil Kvyat. If he wins in Melbourne in his debut for Red Bull, expect him to challenge Putin for the leadership of Russia.

Lewis Hamilton. Reigning champion. Rock star. And just quietly, the best team kit in pit lane. The man’s style is effortless.

And finally, Aussie legend and Red Bull Racing star Daniel Ricciardo. His handlers told him it was time to leave. He told them to beat it. God love him.

Feature Image: Australian Grand Prix