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Oscar Piastri speaks of excitement before racing at home grand prix in Australia
Max Verstappen saw off a spirited Mercedes fightback to put his Red Bull on pole position for the Australian Grand Prix – before sensationally threatening to quit the sport.
Verstappen beat George Russell to top spot by 0.236 seconds to claim his second pole of the year and 22nd of his career
Lewis Hamilton will line up in third position, one place ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez starts last after he crashed out.
Mercedes have endured a poor start to the new season, but the Silver Arrows suddenly find themselves in contention for a surprise victory at Melbourne’s Albert Park with Russell leading their charge.
Follow live F1 updates from the Australian Grand Prix – the race starts at 6am (BST)
Lewis Hamilton keeps his lead of the race! (Lap 10/58)
It’s lights out once again in Melbourne – and Lewis Hamilton maintains his lead into turn 1! He got a better start to Verstappen…
Fernando Alonso had a look at Max Verstappen but couldn’t quite make it work!
It’s relatively smooth on first lap – and George Russell overtakes Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenberg up to P5!
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 06:39
Cars back out on track at the Australian Grand Prix (Lap 9/58)
It will be a standing start at Albert Park, as the cars go out behing the safety car ahead of a standing start!
Here’s your top-10 once again: Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Stroll, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Russell, Tsunoda, Norris, Piastri
Needless to say, everyone is on hard tyres in the top-10!
Carlos Sainz down in P11…
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 06:36
The Australian Grand Prix will restart in five minutes!
George Russell, in his defence, unhappy but not with his own team, who he says “made the right call” on pitting him!
The red flag, incidentally, is due to the amount of gravel on the track as a result of Albon’s heavy shunt at turn 9!
Really tough on the Mercedes man!
Carlos Sainz has also missed out there – gone from P4 to P11! A nightmare start for Ferrari!
How long can Lewis Hamilton keep Max Verstappen behind him?!
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 06:27
The red flag is thrown! (Lap 9/58)
Oh wow – it’s proven to be a nightmare this for George Russell because the RED FLAG has been thrown!
That means everyone goes into the pit lane and every car can change tyres!
Russell has gone from the lead to P7 for no reason at all!
1-10: Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Stroll, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Russell, Tsunoda, Norris, Piastri
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 06:19
George Russell pits during the safety car period (Lap 9/58)
The race leader has pitted! Russell has a 3.6 second pit stop and comes out in seventh! He’ll be looking to go to the end…
Lewis Hamilton now leads the Australian Grand Prix behind the safety car – but sounds like he’d have like to pitted!
“This has put me at a massive disadvantage”
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 06:18
Alex Albon crashes out of the race! (Lap 7/58)
Alex Albon has lost the rear of the car and has crashed – from P6 for Williams! What a nightmare!
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 06:16
George Russell maintains his lead post-safety car (Lap 6/58)
George Russell doing well to preserve his lead, setting the fastest lap of the race on lap 4!
DRS now enabled, with Hamilton within a second of his team-mate and Verstappen within a second of Hamilton!
4-10: Sainz, Alonso, Alonso, Albon, Stroll, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Tsunoda
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 06:14
Charles Leclerc is out of the car (Lap 3/58)
The cars now rolling behind the safety car…
Replays show Lance Stroll tagged Leclerc’s Ferrari – but it’s a racing incident! No investigation ne essary…
“He pushed me off the track” exclaims Verstappen over team radio on Hamilton’s overtake. No investigation on that either.
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 06:10
George Russell takes the lead of the Australian Grand Prix! (Lap 1/58)
It’s lights out in Melbourne – and what a start!
George Russell is in the lead, taking Max Verstappen down the inside into turn 1, and then Lewis Hamilton does the same down into turn 4!
Max Verstappen down into third! Mercedes one-two!
But Charles Leclerc is stuck in the gravel – he’s out of the race!
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 06:05
And we’re away with the formation lap at Albert Park…
Most of the field – and the front of the pack – are on the medium tyres to start with in Melbourne!
Max Verstappen leads the pack away on the formation lap – it’s time for action at Albert Park!
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 06:02
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