THE Australian Grand Prix has returned with suspense and drama as fans prepare for the finale in Melbourne.
Formula One icon Lewis Hamilton has endured a less than ideal start to the season but he managed to finish fifth on the grid in qualifying.
Whilst Charles Leclerc secured pole position with arch rival Max Verstappen landing second spot.
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1
- Grand Prix start time: 6am BST – April 10
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Follow ALL the action from Melbourne with our live blog below…
Lew’s mask moan
Lewis Hamilton was ‘uncomfortable’ at FIA officials not wearing masks at the drivers’ briefing ahead of the Australian GP.
Race chiefs used the meeting to underline a crackdown on jewellery and insist on fireproof underwear during tomorrow’s race.
But Hamilton doubted whether such talks were necessary.
And although face coverings aren’t compulsory in enclosed areas in Australia, the Brit pointed out: “No one in the drivers’ briefing were wearing masks.
“Some of the drivers were but most of the FIA were not, which for me was uncomfortable.”
The seven-time world champ added: “It was the longest drivers’ briefing of my life.
“I don’t understand the small things they are picking up on, like the underwear – are we really talking about that kind of thing?”
Qualification results
- P1 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- P2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- P3 Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
- P4 Norris (McLaren)
- P5 Hamilton (Mercedes)
- P6 Russell (Mercedes)
- P7 Ricciardo (McLaren)
- P8 Ocon (Alpine)
- P9 Sainz (Ferrari)
- P10 Alonso (Alpine)
Credit: Alamy Coulthard on Hamilton’s future
“What’s happened with Lewis and Mercedes might be slightly de-motivating,” he said.
“I expect him to do what he has done for many years – get the feedback on his car and be the voice of it. The workload is the same whether you are winning or losing.
“What is different is the frustration because you don’t have a winning car. But I was massively impressed that he committed himself into signing a two-year contract – despite the uncertainty surrounding the new regulations.
“That told me he had a hunger and a focus. It only takes a bad run and a bit of frustration for a driver’s motivation to tail off.
“Now, he had a similar situation at McLaren when he was younger. But that was then.
“This is now when he’s older, more experienced and has seven world championships under his belt. I don’t think older sportsmen and women lose their talent.
“What I think they lose is the need. There is a certain point in your life where you need it. Lewis has had a brilliant period of success. The question is for him: ‘Am I prepared to go through the motions this season, or am I actually going to consider my future?’
“This will show to any of the doubters his absolute underlying commitment.”
Credit: Reuters
How to watch Australian GP
- The F1 Australian Grand Prix will get underway from 6am UK time on Sunday, April 10.
- The race will be held at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia.
- There will be a whopping 80,000 fans in attendance for the race.
- All the coverage from the F1 Australian Grand Prix will be shown live on Sky Sports F1.
- You can live stream the action from the Sky Go or NOW TV apps, both of which are available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
Alonso pole bid woe
Fernando Alonso reckons he could have taken polefor Alpine today were it not for a hydraulic failure.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took top spot ahead of tomorrow’s Australian GP ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Alonso sparked a red flag when he ran wide of the apex as he neared the corner, took the kerb and rolled into gravel and then the wall.
The comeback star: “We lost the hydraulics on the car, so we lost the gear change and power steering and everything.
“I think we could fight for pole position today.
“Been waiting many years for that possibility and it is amazing we have been so unlucky in these first three races.
“I was doing one of the best weekends in years and it is very frustrating now.”
Mercedes chief admits problems could last until final race
Toto Wolff says Mercedes’ pace problems could last until the final race of the season.
The team boss also admitted their cars’ problems are wide-ranging.
Wolff said: “Our bouncing is worse in the sense that we are carrying it into the corners, into the high speeds so we see where we are losing the performance.
“On sector one, we are very competitive when you look at the overlay, and sector two we are competitive. Sector three, through Nine and 10 we are losing all our margins, almost a second through a couple of corners.
“Is curing the bouncing the miraculous unlocking of a second? No, for sure not. But there are many other little improvements we can make on weight.
“I’m optimistic we are going to get there eventually. Whether it is is in two races or five or by the end of the season, I don’t know.”
Hamilton ‘doesn’t enjoy’ driving his new Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton admits driving his struggling new Mercedes has taken away his driving enjoyment.
The seven-time world champ qualified fifth for the Australian GP, helped by problems for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Alpine’s Fernando Alonso.
But he was a second past Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
The Brit revealed his Mercedes fast-bouncing at high speeds – ‘porpoising’ – was ‘really the worst characteristic I have experienced in a car and we can’t get rid of it at the moment’.
Hamilton added: “We’re a second off, a pretty huge gap.
“I enjoy the role of working with the team. I don’t enjoy driving the car but I enjoy the collaboration of working with the guys, knowing that there is a steep hill to climb and just remaining hopeful.”
Qualification results
P1 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
P2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
P3 Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
P4 Norris (McLaren)
P5 Hamilton (Mercedes)
P6 Russell (Mercedes)
P7 Ricciardo (McLaren)
P8 Ocon (Alpine)
P9 Sainz (Ferrari)
P10 Alonso (Alpine)
Eliminated in Q2: Gasly, Bottas, Tsunoda, Zhou, Schumacher
Eliminated in Q1: Albon, Magnussen, Vettel, Latifi, Stroll
Merc my words
Somewhat of a comeback for Mercedes in Australia.
Lewis Hamilton will be 5th on the grid tomorrow after qualifying.
The seven-time champion will be in with a real shot if the car gives him what he needs.
George Russell qualified 6th.
One step closer for Verstappen
Max Verstappen gives his view after finishing second in qualifying.
He will start behind LeClerc on the grid tomorrow in Melbourne.
The 24-year-old said: “For me this weekend so far has been all over the place, I’m happy to be second, but as a team we want more.”
Credit: F1 LeClerc happy on top
Charles LeClerc spoke after making pole for tomorrow’s race.
The Ferrari ace said: “The free practice sessions were quite messy for me, but in Q3 I managed to put everything together, so it feels great.
“I’m very happy to be on pole tomorrow!”
Credit: F1 Dennis continued
Dennis said: “In 2020, I basically lived at the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes. I was there all the time.
“I didn’t really have too much racing going on myself and they needed a driver who had a bit of F1 experience.
“This year has been pretty hectic already. I think with a new car it just puts more demand on the workload.
“So there’s been quite a lot of simulator work and that will continue on throughout the year.”
Exclusive by Ben Hunt
Max Verstappen’s bid to defend his F1 crown is being boosted by British racer Jake Dennis.
The 26-year-old from Nuneaton is Red Bull’s development driver and he also races in Formula E for the Andretti team.
Dennis is a versatile driver and spends HOURS in Red Bull’s simulator to help fine-tune Verstappen’s race car.
While he is also out to win the Formula E title himself this season after finishing third in the championship last year in his rookie season.
Dennis, who will race in the Rome ePrix today, says he enjoys balancing his own racing commitments with working for Red Bull.
Leclerc takes pole
Sensational lap from the Ferrari man to start P1.
Verstappen is second in his Red Bull, Perez in P3.
And what about this! Lando Norris in fourth. A great recovery from him.
Hamilton qualifies in fifth, Russell in sixth.
Phew, all poised for an exciting battle tomorrow.
Russell, from nowhere, pops up in P4
Great lap from the Mercedes man while Hamilton is struggling.
Q3 is go again
Six minutes to go and it is Leclerc, Perez, Verstappen.
Things just are not clicking for Alonso
He has been at Alpine for a while now and spoke about ‘El Plan’ when he rejoined F1.
It has been more pain than a plan. He trudges back to the garage as the session is delayed again.
Almost seven minutes left on the clock.
Red flag – Crash for Alonso
The two-time world champion has lost control and slams into the barriers. He is out of the car and out of this qualifying.
Q3 is go
Shoot-out for the top 10 is underway in Oz. Verstappen v Leclerc, or can someone else spring a surprise?
Blinded by the sun
Bottas’s run comes to an end
The first time since 2016 the Finn has not reached Q3.
Out in Q2
Gasly, Bottas, Tsunoda, Zhou and Schumacher are eliminated. Both McLarens are in to Q3. That’s a good upturn for the Woking team.
Tsunoda runs into the gravel…
And Lewis Hamilton is having difficulty staying on track.
Meanwhile, Leclerc has asked for a new helmet with a dark visor, as the low sun is making it difficult to see. He says it is dangerous.
Another fine for Vettel.
Yesterday it was €5,000 for riding a scooter on the track after his car broke down.
Today it is €600 for breaking the speed limit in the pit lane. He was clocked at 85.1km/h, a total of 5.1km/h over the regulation speed.
Hamilton unhappy with Verstappen
The Dutchman was unaware Hamilton was approaching on a flying lap and did not move out of the way.
Hamilton radios his team to complain while Verstappen also radios his team to ask if Hamilton was on a flyer.
It seems he was unaware he was, so bit of a mistake from Red Bull’s pitwall not to warn their driver to move out of the way.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
