The big day arrived with Max Verstappen starting from pole position for the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. Live updates below, run live from 3pm!
But although the defending champion’s position was expected, the rest of the grid has plenty of surprises, from the Mercedes pairing in second and third, to Sergio Pérez needing to make a charge from last.
And can Australia’s Oscar Piastri pull off some heroics on his home debut, starting 16th?
Watch the 2023 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix live and ad-free at the races on Kayo Sports this Sunday April 2 at 3:00pm AEST. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Verstappen takes pole at the Australian GP | 01:23
VERSTAPPEN THREATENS TO QUIT OVER SPRINT CHANGES
Reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen has sensationally threatened to quit the sport if organizers continue to make adjustments that are “not in the DNA of Formula One”.
The Dutchman again criticized sprint racing and lashed out at the proposal to hold qualifying for Sunday’s main race on Friday (instead of Saturday), with a separate qualifying on Saturday morning for a separate sprint that afternoon.
“I hope there are not too many changes, otherwise I won’t be around for long,” Verstappen told Portuguese television channel Sport TV.
In his post-qualifying press conference, Verstappen added: “I’m not a fan of [the proposals] absolutely. When we do all those kinds of things, the weekend becomes very intense and we already do a lot of racing.
“It’s not the right way to do it. I understand they want to make every day exciting, but they should cut down on the weekend and just race Saturday and Sunday and make those two days exciting.
“We’re heading into seasons where we might have 24 or 25 races and if you then start adding more, it’s not worth it to me. I’m not going to enjoy that.
“A sprint is about survival and not about competing. There is nothing to risk when you have a fast car. I prefer to keep my car alive and make sure I have a good race car for Sunday.
“Even if you change the format, I don’t think it’s in the DNA of Formula One to do this kind of sprinting.
“F1 is about getting the most out of it in qualifying and [then] Have an amazing Sunday at a long distance race. That’s the DNA of the sport and I don’t understand why we need to change that.”
Many of Verstappen’s rivals have praised the proposals, saying they add more interest to a race weekend rather than the traditional format of three free practice sessions, including two on Fridays.
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Do cold tires cost Piastri Q2 the job? | 00:48
DOOHAN IN WILD BATTLE
Australian Jack Doohan, son of motorcycling legend Mick, put on a show in a wild F2 race on Sunday.
Doohan started a lowly 15th, but worked his way up to 11th in five laps, with a dramatic series of passes.
He then attempted to pass Jak Crawford for tenth on lap six, leading to a crash that caused chaos at Albert Park.
His late lunge saw him pass Crawford on the apex and forced his opponent wide, with Crawford spinning and hitting the Australian. Doohan was uninjured, but Crawford was sent across the sand and into the wall, ending his run. Crawford raged on the team radio: “Idiot!”
But the stewards ruled it a racing incident and did not penalize the Australian for causing the crash.
The action forced a safety car at a horrible time for the Australian, who was running on a different tire strategy to many of his competitors. He moved up to second when the front runners pitted, but rather than bet on another safety car later in the race that would give him a chance to pit without penalty, he opted to pit and was sent back. to position 18.
With the safety car out for over ten minutes, Doohan opted to return to the pits to change back to the medium tires (having used a second tire compound as necessary).
That left him 20th and second from last with 20 laps remaining when the safety car ended.
Doohan quickly made a pass after the restart before another rival went off the road to give him away in 18th, before another pass a lap later as he mounted an epic charge through the field.
He moved as high as 14th before another safety car emerged following a crash by Roy Nissany on lap 27.
SESSION SCHEDULES
Sunday, April 2
9:05 a.m. to 9:55 a.m.: Formula 3 main race
10:20 to 10:55: Supercar Race 4
11:35 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.: Formula 2 main race
13:00-13:30: Parade of F1 drivers
15:00-17:00: F1 Australian Grand Prix (58 laps)
HOW TO SEE
The entire Australian Grand Prix, including all practice, qualifying and races, can be watched live and ad-free on Foxtel and the Kayo streaming platform.
Watch the 2023 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix live and ad-free at the races on Kayo Sports this Sunday April 2 at 3:00pm AEST. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >