Australian Grand Prix as it happened: Sainz reigns supreme at Melbourne Park as Ferrari make two-decade first

The hype and hysteria around Albert Park has at last led to this moment, as the Formula One field gets set to contest the Australian Grand Prix. Tune in for lap-by-lap updates on The Roar from 3pm (AEDT).

Round 3 of the world championship sees the reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, arrive undefeated thus far in 2024, leading teammate Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the standings.

Coming from the perils of the Saudi Arabian concrete jungle in Jeddah, the Albert Park circuit is just as intense – with its unforgiving walls blended with high-speed corners that the drivers will have to persist with for 58-laps.

As Alexander Albon discovered during the first practice session, where he binned his Williams coming out of Turn 8. This saw Williams make the controversial decision to put the Thai driver in his teammate Logan Sargeant’s car, as they weren’t equipped with a spare chassis.

Only 19 drivers will then line up on the grid for the Australian Grand Prix, headed on pole position by Verstappen – who has a hat-trick of poles now to start 2024. Teammate Perez will line up third, with Red Bull split by Carlos Sainz, who returns after missing the last race with appendicitis.

Oscar Piastri gave Aussie fans something to dream about in Q2 when he was third fastest to end that phase of qualifying. Ultimately though the Melbournian will line up sixth, sharing the third row of the grid with 2022 winner Leclerc to challenge for best of the rest; all while Daniel Ricciardo fell afoul of track limits and found himself eliminated in Q1.

Misfortune too struck eight-time pole sitter Lewis Hamilton, who was shockingly eliminated after getting the bump from Q3 by less than a tenth of a second.

With Pirelli have brought a step softer set of tyre compounds to Melbourne this year, the strategy options are still unknown. Sainz after qualifying opined that the degradation of the medium tyre is high and we’re yet to see the hard tyre in use this weekend.

Given the perilous nature of Albert Park and the fact the race last year saw three red flags – expect the unexpected and the possibility of Safety Car interventions to vary up the race strategically.

Race Information

Lights out: 3pm (AEDT)
Venue: Albert Park, Melbourne
TV: Fox Sports, Channel 10
Online: Kayo Sports, 10 Play
2023 Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

Grid
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), 3. Sergio Perez (Red Bull), 4. Lando Norris (McLaren), 5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren), 7. George Russell (Mercedes), 8. Yuki Tsunoda (RB), 9. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), 10. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), 11. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 12. Alexander Albon (Williams), 13. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber), 14. Kevin Magnussen (Haas), 15. Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 16. Nico Hülkenberg (Haas), 17. Pierre Gasly (Alpine), 18. Daniel Ricciardo (RB), 19. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)

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