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.
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)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Thanks mate. One of the first journos to actually do that across my long career in the game. Less and less good people in the business but you sir, are one of them.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
That then wraps up this live blog of the Australian Grand Prix. Thank you so much for tuning in for another Albert Park spectacle. Please stay tuned on The Roar for more follow up content from myself and Ben Waterworth coming from trackside. It has been an absolute honour and pleasure to represent The Roar again at the Australian GP. Until the championship returns to Suzuka for the Japanese GP in two weeks time - bye for now.
andrew
Roar Rookie
I thought it was an entertaining race. I'll be interested to see what Max's problem was although the commentary suggested brakes were the reason. I agree with Stuart's post that Ferrari are making a mistake letting Sainz go. Hope he's not lost to F1.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
If you haven't already folks, please read Stuart's excellent piece regarding this. :thumbup:
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Alonso has been summoned to the stewards in relation to that incident.
andrew
Roar Rookie
I didn't mind listening to him,although I liked Damon Hill's comments as well.
Blink
Roar Rookie
I to thought Guenther was only ok. Didn't really bring a lot. Great race for Ferrarri, McLaren and no-one else. Maybe RB getting points. Seems pretty hopeless at Sauber. Interesting to hear Jack Doohan thinking Alonso may have caused Russells crash.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
The AGPC also reports that an estimated 132,106 fans were in attendance today. Well done! Total across the four days then comes to an estimated 452,055 people - which is almost 7,500 more than the 2023 event. It continues to get busier and busier at the Australian Grand Prix each year since the pandemic.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Thoughts on this one then Roarers?
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Sounded like it. Curious to see if anyone tuning in here has been with the Ten coverage this weekend? If so what did Guenther sound like in commentary?
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
------DRIVER'S------ 51 -- Max Verstappen 47 -- Charles Leclerc 46 -- Sergio Perez 40 -- Carlos Sainz 28 -- Oscar Piastri 27 -- Lando Norris 20 -- Fernando Alonso 18 -- George Russell 8 --- Lewis Hamilton 7 --- Lance Stroll 6 --- Oliver Bearman 4 --- Yuki Tsunoda 3 --- Nico Hülkenberg 1 --- Kevin Magnussen 0 --- Alexander Albon 0 --- Zhou Guanyu 0 --- Daniel Ricciardo 0 --- Esteban Ocon 0 --- Pierre Gasly 0 --- Valtteri Bottas 0 --- Logan Sargeant
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
-----CONSTRUCTOR'S----- 97 -- Red Bull Racing 93 -- Ferrari 55 -- McLaren Mercedes 27 -- Aston Martin 26 -- Mercedes AMG 4 --- RB Honda 4 --- Haas Ferrari 0 --- Williams Mercedes 0 --- Kick Sauber 0 --- Alpine
Micko
Roar Rookie
Probably both? Would help with someone who could occasionally challenge Max.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Yeesh, Steiner struggled a bit there.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RACE REPORT A fortnight after having surgery for appendicitis and sitting out the Saudi Arabian race, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz has returned to claim an emphatic victory at the Australian Grand Prix – with teammate Charles Leclerc completing a one-two for the Scuderia. The race was turned on its head early on, as pole sitter and the unbeaten in 2024 Max Verstappen had a brake fire on Lap 5 and bowed out of the lead – leaving the Spaniard in control. From there, Sainz commanded the race via a two-stop strategy to finish 2.3-seconds clear of teammate Leclerc. With McLaren’s Lando Norris completing the podium ahead of Aussie Oscar Piastri. The McLarens had the pace on the hard tyres, with Piastri running in third during the second stint. Though the Woking team made the decision to invert the positions mid-race, as Norris was on younger tyres. Mercedes had a mare of a race at Albert Park, with a double DNF to finish off a miserable weekend. Lewis Hamilton in his final Silver Arrows appearance in Melbourne suffered a suspected engine failure on Lap 17 – while teammate George Russell crashed out on the penultimate lap at Turn 8 while chasing Fernando Alonso for sixth. There were points for Red Bull at least through Sergio Perez, with the Mexican coming home in the top five behind Piastri. Aston Martin capitalised on the double Mercedes DNF to also secure Lance Stroll in seventh. Aussie Daniel Ricciardo ended the race in twelfth, as well as a lap down with no real challenge to the points paying positions. That was despite teammate Yuki Tsunoda finishing in eighth – which was where he qualified. Ahead of the Haas duo, who both benefitted from Russell’s crash late to get Kevin Magnussen into the points to compliment Nico Hülkenberg in ninth. Pit-stop errors again plagued the Sauber team, with both Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou having slow service the first time round. Both drivers only managing to finish ahead of Alpine’s Esteban Ocon who was last of the classified finishers. The decision as well for Logan Sargeant to be benched to give his chassis to Alexander Albon – who wrote his off in FP1 – as well will come under scrutiny. The Thai driver was eleventh, but was outpaced by the Haas drivers. This was the first retirement for Verstappen since the 2022 Australian Grand Prix and the end of the longest ever streak of points finishes in Formula One history. The Dutchman continues to lead the championship, albeit by only 5-points over Leclerc. Ferrari have also closed the gap in the constructor’s championship to Red Bull, with only 4-points between them.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Flat out slow or simply highlighting how good Max actually is?
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RESULTS FROM THE 58-LAP AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 1. C. Sainz 2. C. Leclerc (Fastest Lap) 3. L. Norris 4. O. Piastri 5. S. Perez 6. F. Alonso 7. L. Stroll 8 Y. Tsunoda 9. N. Hülkenberg 10. K. Magnussen 11. A. Albon 12. D. Ricciardo 13. P. Gasly 14 V. Bottas 15. G. Zhou 16. E. Ocon DNF G. Russell DNF L. Hamilton DNF M. Verstappen
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
POST-RACE INTERVIEWS - Hosted by Guenther Steiner SAINZ - "It was a really good race, I felt a little stiff out there." "Happy to be in a one-two with Charles here." "It is a rollercoaster, but I love it." "I will recommend the other drivers to take it [appendix] out." LECLERC - "Yeah it feels good for the team." "One-two hasn't happened since Bahrain 2022." "Carlos has had an amazing weekend to come back after surgery." "The last stint was so positive." NORRIS - "It was a very good day for us." "P3 and 4 is very good for us in the championship." "I think our place was strong enough today [for second]." "Probably wasn't expecting to be on the podium." "It's clear that this circuit suits us."
Micko
Roar Rookie
RB's gain I feel? Can't see Checo being renewed for 2025.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Ferrari have proven to be insane getting rid of Carlos. All to bring in an aging Hamilton?