10.03 a.m. – The new starting grid for the Australian GP
1st row 1. Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1’15”915 2. Carlos Sainz (Esp) Ferrari 1’16”185 2nd row 3. Lando Norris (GBR) McLaren 1’16”315 4. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1’16”435 3rd row 5. Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren 1’16”572 6. Sergio Pérez (Mex) Red Bull 1’16”274 * 4th row 7. George Russell (Great Britain) Mercedes 1’16”724 8. Yuki Tsunoda (Japan) Racing Bulls 1’16”788 5th row 9. Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin 1’17”072 10. Fernando Alonso (Esp) Aston Martin 1’17”552 6th row 11. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) Mercedes 1’16”960 12. Alexander Albon (Great Britain) Williams 1’17”167 7th row 13. Valtteri Bottas (Aleta) Kick Sauber 1’17”340 14. Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas 1’17”427 eighth row 15. Esteban Ocon (Fra) Alpine 1’17”697 16. Nico Hulkenberg (Germany) Haas 1’17”976 ninth row 17. Pierre Gasly (Fra) Alpine 1’17”982 18. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Racing Bulls 1’18”085 tenth row 19. Zhou Guanyu (Chn) Kick Sauber 1’18”188 Logan Sargeant’s Williams won’t start, here’s why.
09.14 – Pérez penalized with three positions, Leclerc becomes fourth
The classification changes, Sergio Pérez has dropped three positions for having obstructed Hulkenberg in his fastest lap. Commissioners applied the standard sanction for these cases. The Mexican drops to seventh place, Leclerc moves up to the second row behind Lando Norris.
07.43 h – The starting grid of the Australian GP
1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Sainz (Espa) Ferrari
3. Pérez (Red Bull) 4. Norris (McLaren)
5. Leclerc (Ferrari) 6. Piastri (McLaren)
7. Russell (Mercedes) 8. Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)
9. Paseo (Aston Martin) 10. Alonso (Aston Martin)
11. Hamilton (Mercedes) 12. Albon (Williams)
13. Bottas (Sauber) 14. Magnussen (Haas)
15. Ocon (Alpine) 16. Hülkenberg (Haas)
17. Gasly (Alpine) 18. Ricciardo (Racing Bulls)
19. Zhou (Sauber)
07.11 am – The difference between Verstappen and the world, Sainz’s feat, Leclerc’s mistakes
(by Daniele Sparisci) There’s a reason they call it SuperMax. The pole in Australia, the 35th of his career, is his doing, the superiority of the car has nothing to do with it. Max was behind the Ferrari all weekend, destroyed a floor, damaged a chassis and broke an engine, complained for a long time about understeer, had problems like never before this season.
Then he invented two monstrous laps in the last qualifying phase to dictate his law and repel the red onslaught. Phenomenal things, that’s what Schumacher and Senna did, champions capable of going beyond the middle. Ferrari eats its hands, especially Leclerc: fifth after a terrible finish, not up to his qualities as a hunter of fast laps.
This time more was expected, Sainz showed that it was possible. Carlos was the only one capable of stealing the show from Verstappen in Melbourne: front row two weeks after his appendicitis surgery, he gets out of the car and has trouble walking, they take him in a golf cart to the interview area. A true warrior, he looks like his father and it shows. “They have been difficult days, I am very happy to be so far away.” He will have to grit his teeth and try, but for Ferrari it would have been much better to have the most honest driver in front of him. Furthermore, as we also have to defend ourselves from Pérez, the Mexican will no longer be the extra at the end of 2023. He is a solid and aggressive teammate, but he is lost in naivety: the obstruction in Hülkenberg costs him three relegation places in the table . grid, from third he fell to seventh.
What cards can Ferrari play? The pace over the distance was excellent as was the tire wear, but Sainz is certainly not in the best condition to face an attacking race. And Leclerc will have to distance himself immediately from the beginning of Norris, an uncomfortable and fast opponent. For the Monegasque the goal is the podium, for Sainz something more. But that takes a miracle. The rest of the group is far away: McLaren third force, Aston Martin with Stroll ahead of Alonso (another news of the day), Tsunoda surprises with the Racing Bulls in eighth position. Mercedes saved by Russell, Hamilton’s crisis continues. Outside the top 10, the wait for the change to Ferrari becomes a long road of the cross: “I’m disappointed, not surprised.”
07.05 – Sainz: «Difficult days, I can’t believe I’m in the front row»
Carlos in the front row is a feat: «I’m not in perfect condition, I can’t believe I’m in the front row. They were difficult days, I was in bed a lot after the operation. But I did it, 58 laps won’t be easy but I’m going to try hard.”
07:04 – Leclerc failed the last attempt
A couple of mistakes from Leclerc who gave up on the last attempt and will start fifth. It’s a shame because Ferrari had excellent potential as Sainz showed.
Verstappen, Sainz, Pérez, Norris, Leclerc, Russell, Tsunoda, Stroll, Alonso
06:57 – Pole for Verstappen, Sainz second
Monster lap by Verstappen who takes pole in the Australian GP, Sainz second. Perez third.
06.55 am – The last attempts begin.
Verstappen’s time remains to beat, 1’16”048. Max achieved a masterpiece in his most difficult moment. Sainz and Leclerc will have to sweat to overcome this time trial.
06:48 – Sainz immediately on track, Verstappen flies
Carlos launches immediately, in the first sector of the track he goes very fast. Leclerc second, but Verstappen has now found a monster lap and is ahead of everyone.
06.46 am – Q3 begins, pole is decided
Last minutes of qualifying for the Australian GP, Ferrari is playing for pole position. Leclerc is convinced he can respond to Sainz that he feels very well two weeks after his appendicitis operation.
06.43 h – The top 10 of Q2
Sainz, Leclerc, Verstappen, Piastri, Pérez, Alonso, Norris, Stroll, Tsunoda, Russell.
06:40 – Q2, Hamilton out
Here is the first sensational surprise of the weekend: Hamilton (8 wins in Melbourne) does not make it to the last qualifying session. He is eleventh, eliminated by Tsunoda’s excellent lap. The others eliminated: Albon, Bottas, Magnussen, Ocon.
06.38 am – Hamilton at risk
Hamilton is ninth, an uncomfortable position with the evolution of the track.
06:36 – Charles loses in two corners.
Compared to Sainz, Charles suffers a difference of three tenths in two corners, but Charles always leaves something for the last attempt.
06.34h – Sainz flies with new tires
Carlos is two tenths ahead of Verstappen, Carlos is driving very well. Leclerc, on the other hand, is third, four tenths behind his teammate.
06.32 am – Alonso fights
It is surprising to see Fernando Alonso, who had saved Aston Martin in the first two races, in difficulties. Spanish does not do well in Australia.
06.30 – Piastri also did well
Plates behind Verstappen at two tenths, Ferrari is not pressing for now. He wants to understand the margin with used tires.
06:28 – Verstappen fast on the first attempt
Max, ahead of everyone else with the advantage of the new tire, lapped in 1’16”387, setting the new track record. Sainz and Leclerc race with already used tires, a measure to save a set of tires.
The second session begins, Ferrari must confirm the good things it has shown in these two days. Verstappen must regain his composure, and he is also running with a new engine: the one used in the first two races was damaged when hitting a curb.
06.21 h – The top 10 of Q1
Sainz, Pérez, Verstappen, Leclerc, Alonso, Russell, Albon, Tsunoda, Piastri, Stroll.
06.19h – Q1 finished, those eliminated
Hulkenberg, Gasly, Ricciardo and Zhu. Only four because there are 19 cars due to the retirement of one of the Williams, Sargeant’s.
06.17 am – Verstappen’s other understeer problems
Max can’t find the feeling of pushing, the Red Bull doesn’t seem right. He complains of understeer and is third behind Pérez.
06.15 hours – Pérez behind Sainz
Fast lap of the Mexican, in Melbourne you always have to turn as happens in other circuits in the city. Because the track is constantly changing, even Gasly is under investigation.
06.13 am – Mercedes always in difficulties
Russell feels minor problems with the brakes, Hamilton oscillates between ninth and tenth position. Mercedes confirms that it is in great difficulties, also this year it has produced a car that is difficult to tune up.
06.11h – Sainz’s best time
Carlos is ahead of Leclerc and Alonso and is also in the fight for pole. And it would be sensational less than ten days after the appendicitis operation.
06:08 am – Pérez and Hulkenberg are under investigation
In the event of an obstruction episode, the stewards will analyze it at the end of the classification. Impediment is generally punished with 3 or 5 positions less on the starting grid.
06:07 am – The first times
Leclerc, Sainz, Verstappen, Pérez, Norris
06:05 – Verstappen: “A lot of understeer”
Max also complains about understeer, Leclerc asks for a visor change. Charles was immediately fast and dictated the pace ahead of Sainz.
06:02 – Williams with only one car, complains Albon
05:59 am – Q1 started
Qualifying for the Australian GP begins in Albert Park, temperature at 19 degrees and asphalt at 34 degrees.
05.52 hours – Warning to Sainz
Carlos was reprimanded for an episode during the third free practice, he left at an unauthorized time.
05.50 am – Verstappen has changed the engine
Precautionary measure at Red Bull, the entire engine was replaced due to a reliability alarm. It is only the third GP of the season.
05.44 am – Everything ready for Australian GP qualifying
Let’s remember the three sessions: Q1 the first phase where the first four will be eliminated, another 5 will be excluded in Q2 and in Q3 there will be 10 left to fight for pole. It will be a very close battle.
05.33 – Leclerc also ahead in the third free practice
Charles Leclerc finished the third free practice ahead of Verstappen, Ferrari confirms its competitiveness. Sainz third and Hamilton surprisingly fourth after a nightmare on Friday. At the front the differences are reduced, the first four to less than a tenth.
05.15: Toto Wolff tries again with Verstappen
05:00 – Leclerc’s achievement in 2022 and the “beast”
04.17 am – Ferrari in Australia with an “aggressive approach”