Analysis of the data from the Australian Grand Prix has shown that the cars were around two seconds quicker per lap during every session compared to 2014, a trend set to continue throughout the rest of this season.

During last year's Australian Grand Prix, which was held in similar race conditions, the best time of the weekend was 1:29.375s (in FP3, soft tyre): a benchmark that already came close to being broken in FP1 this year, with the cars straight out of the box.

The quickest time of the weekend this year was 1:26.327s (in qualifying, soft tyre): a full three seconds faster than 2014 when the fastest time of the weekend was in FP3, due to a wet qualifying.

This year's fastest race lap was 1:30.945s, set by Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton on the medium tyre. This was 1.5 seconds faster than the fastest race lap last year (1:32.478s) set by Nico Rosberg for Mercedes on the soft tyre.

With the gap between the soft and medium compounds in Australia this year reckoned to be around 1.4 seconds, it is easy to see the performance leap that has been made thanks to the latest engine evolutions and improved tyres.

"These figures underline what we expected to see following pre-season testing," said Paul Hembery, "a significant reduction in lap times, with cars that will only get faster as the year goes on. We could even see some new lap records on certain circuits. With this in mind, we have introduced evolutions to the rear structure of all our 2015 tyres this year, in order to give them greater capability in handling the extreme demands placed on them."

FP1: 2014 1:31.840 (Med) 2015 1:29.557 (Med)

FP2: 2014 1:29.625 (Soft) 2015 1:27.697 (Soft)

FP3: 2014 1:29.375 (Soft) 2015 1:27.867 (Soft)

Qual: 2014 1:30.775 (Soft) 2015 1:26.327 (Soft)

Race: 2014 1:32.478 (Soft) 2015 1:30.945 (Med)