After missing the Australian Grand Prix for the last two years, the time has come for Albert Park to see racing laps once again and in front of a record crowd. Join The Roar for live race updates and rolling coverage from 3pm (AEST).
In the time off the Formula One schedule due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the iconic Melbourne race has seen changes to the track which should encourage more overtaking, as in the past this was non-existent.
The removal of the Turn 9 and 10 chicane has seen a high-speed run from Turn 8 all the way up alongside the lake, before the first of three DRS zones after Turn 10. Originally there was a fourth DRS zone, but that was removed ahead of third practice.
58-laps still comprise the revised Albert Park layout, with a wider pit-lane and increased speed limit to allow for more aggressive strategies to play out. A more abrasive bitumen as part of the resurfaced track, may see a two-stop strategy to be faster.
Points leaders in Ferrari come to Australia as favourites, with the hope of increasing their lead in both championships. Charles Leclerc leads teammate Carlos Sainz by 12-points, with Saudi Arabian Grand Prix winner Max Verstappen behind by 20.
The Scuderia certainly had the better of Red Bull in their long runs on Friday, as Verstappen was the chief complainant of balance issues right until the end of third practice.
Ferrari have had the better record in Melbourne since 2014, having won races in 2017 and 2018 with Sebastian Vettel. While Red Bull only have one podium finish in the turbo-hybrid era, coming back in 2019 for Verstappen.
Leclerc will start from pole ahead of Verstappen, setting up another chapter in their battle so far for the 2022 world championship. Red Bull
teammate Perez lines up third, putting the team in a good place strategically with Sainz down in ninth.
A variety of midfield cars headed up by Lando Norris will make an interesting fight for the remainder of the key positions. Positive news for fans of home favourite Daniel Ricciardo, qualifying in seventh and is yet to score points in 2022.
Mercedes lock out the third row of the grid as they continue to struggle with their W13, with it seeming that top six placings is all that the reigning constructor’s champions can manage at present.
For live blog coverage of the first Australian Grand Prix in three years, be sure to tune in on The Roar from 2:50pm AEST, as we get set for should be a thriller down under.
Race Information
Lights out: 3pm (AEST)
Venue: Albert Park, Melbourne
TV: Fox Sports, Channel 10
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, 10 Play
Grid
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 3. Sergio Perez (Red Bull), 4. Lando Norris (McLaren), 5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 6. George Russell (Mercedes), 7. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), 8. Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 9. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), 10. Fernando Alonso (Alpine), 11. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), 12. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo), 13. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), 14. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo), 15. Mick Schumacher (Haas), 16. Alex Albon (Williams), 17. Kevin Magnussen (Haas), 18. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), 19. Nicholas Latifi (Williams), 20. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Ka Boom
Guest
Was dead set dumb to remove DRS on the lake stretch. Definitely cost some good overtaking.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
If that doesn't attract a huge crowd, the biggest ever, to Imola for the next race, nothing will.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
If it didn’t take the rest of our lives to get a tram out the circuit lol.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Well that about wraps up this live blog of the Australian Grand Prix. What a great weekend it has been trackside, the event has broken the record as well for most attendance with 419,114 people coming through the gates this weekend. The championship will continue in two week's time when F1 returns to Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, but until then thank you again for joining me on The Roar for coverage throughout the weekend. Ciao!
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Thoughts on that one then? It might not have been the wheel-to-wheel cracker that we expected, but how good to have F1 back in Australia.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
-------- DRIVER'S -------- 71 -- Charles Leclerc 37 -- George Russell 33 -- Carlos Sainz 30 -- Sergio Perez 28 -- Lewis Hamilton 25 -- Max Verstappen 20 -- Esteban Ocon 16 -- Lando Norris 12 -- Kevin Magnussen 12 -- Valtteri Bottas 8 --- Daniel Ricciardo 6 --- Pierre Gasly 4 --- Yuki Tsunoda 2 --- Fernando Alonso 1 --- Guanyu Zhou 1 --- Alex Albon 0 --- Mick Schumacher 0 --- Lance Stroll 0 --- Nico Hulkenberg 0 --- Nicholas Latifi
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
----- CONSTRUCTOR'S ----- 104 - Ferrari 65 -- Mercedes AMG 55 -- Red Bull Racing 24 -- McLaren Mercedes 22 -- Alpine 13 -- Alfa Romeo Racing 12 -- Haas Ferrari 10 -- Scuderia AlphaTauri 1 --- Williams Mercedes 0 --- Aston Martin Racing
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RACE REPORT The first Australian Grand Prix in three years saw a dominant display from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, recording the most comprehensive victory of his young career from pole position. Leclerc romped to a 20-second lead over Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, after reigning world champion Max Verstappen succumbed to another power-unit problem on Lap 39. George Russell for Mercedes netted his first podium for his new team, albeit 25-seconds adrift of the winning car. Ferrari controlled the pace from the outset, with Verstappen only getting close enough to threaten Leclerc during the second Safety Car restart, which came because of Sebastian Vettel crashing out on Lap 24. At the start, Perez was beaten out of the first corner by Lewis Hamilton though the seven-time world champion was cruelled by the timing of the second Safety Car. Teammate Russell hadn’t pitted at this point and was up in third and kept that position as a result of a cheap pit-stop when the race was neutralised. Hamilton then briefly threatened Russell at the end of the race for the final podium position, but stayed in fourth to net solid points for Mercedes. Solid points also accrued for McLaren, after a slow start to their 2022 campaign. Lando Norris did lose fourth at the start, however had the better of teammate Daniel Ricciardo for a season best fifth. Ricciardo in sixth scored his first points of the season too. A lonely seventh for Esteban Ocon at least have points to Alpine, who after showing early potential in the weekend with Fernando Alonso – ended up having tyre dramas to finish last of the classified runners. Valtteri Bottas and Pierre Gasly behind had their race fraught with Lance Stroll holding them up, even after a 5-second penalty was given to the Aston Martin driver for weaving in defence down the pit-straight. Williams gambled on running the entire race on the hard tyre, before a last lap pit-stop for Alex Albon which ultimately paid off in a point for tenth. At one point it appeared as if they’d run to the end of the race without pitting, but that’d have resulted in a disqualification. Unfortunately, Ferrari could not celebrate with Carlos Sainz who found himself in the gravel on the opening lap. The Spaniard from ninth got a poor getaway, then lost control of his car at Turn 10 and was beached in the gravel.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
i'm miffed at the Alpines. They promised to put up a fight and didn't. Sainz went missing with a second place available for just turning up. A good result for Mercedes. Bad for Verstappen.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Go to Lygon St, now. Wish I was there!
andrew
Roar Rookie
Still good to see Dan get some points. Wonder how Lewis feels not having the most dominant car, something he’s been used to the last few years.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
POST-RACE INTERVIEWS - Hosted by Mark Webber LECLERC - "In Formula 1 it is the first one [win] we control the gap." "We were extremely strong and the tyres felt good from start to finish." "We've got a strong car and a very reliable car too." PEREZ - "Start was a bit tricky, after that it was getting him [Hamilton]." "It's a good result, but without Max." RUSSELL - "Capitalise from other's misfortunes." "To stand on the podium is special." "We got to keep on fighting, we were a long way behind our rivals."
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RESULTS FROM THE 58-LAP AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 1 C. Leclerc (Fastest Lap) 2 S. Perez 3 G. Russell 4 L. Hamilton 5 L. Norris 6 D. Ricciardo 7 E. Ocon 8 V. Bottas 9 P. Gasly 10 A. Albon 11 G. Zhou 12 M. Schumacher 13 K. Magnussen 14 L. Stroll* 15 Y. Tsunoda 16 N. Latifi 17 F. Alonso RET M. Verstappen RET S. Vettel RET C. Sainz
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
CHARLES LECLERC WINS THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX! A dominant display from the Ferrari driver, romping to a 20 second win over Sergio Perez. George Russell claims his first podium for Mercedes as well in third.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 58/58: FINAL LAP
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 57/58: Penultimate lap of the race and it looks like Albon still hasn't pitted yet. A bizarre strategy from Williams.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 56/58: Leclerc just checking in with his engineer too about whether he still has the fastest lap of the race. Which of course the Ferrari driver does have.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
And Ocon can't pass Albon. Why is the Alpine slow after being fast all weekend. What a laugh LeClerc is. Wants to set a fast lap time which he already has!
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 55/58: Gasly passed for ninth by Bottas. Alonso has to make another stop and goes a lap down now.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 54/58: Didn't realise either that Albon hasn't pitted yet. The Williams driver currently in seventh.