F1 Australian GP 2023 Highlights: Max Verstappen wins after chaotic finish

Published at :April 2, 2023 at 2:32 PM

Modified at :April 2, 2023 at 8:43 PM

Welcome to the live blog of the Formula 1 (F1) Australian Grand Prix. Catch the Australian GP Live! Wait for 30 seconds for full page to load.

Formula 1‘s travelling circus ventures to the down under for this season’s third race - the Australian Grand Prix. The Australian GP 2023 takes place over the racing weekend on the exciting racing track of the Melbourne Circuit.

Australian GP could be crucial in determining the pecking order of the grid. This is also a special race for the McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri but looking at the conditions of the MCL36, it looks unlikely that he could pull off something special for his home fans.

The new layout of Albert Park, which features as many as four DRS zones, will be in force this year. Going by the DRS data so far, Haas, Red Bull and McLaren have benefitted the most. Whereas Aston Martin, Mercedes and McLaren have been languishing. The four DRS zone across the 5.303 km circuit could make a difference or two.

After slipping down to 15th in Jeddah, defending world champion Max Verstappen is back leading the starting grid in Melbourne. However, it was not all good news for Red Bull. Even as Verstappen took pole position, teammate and Saudi Arabian GP winner Sergio Perez was hit with reality as a brake failure left him last on the grid.

George Russell of the Mercedes will join the Dutch world champion in the front row ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. Saturday's qualifying session proved to be a good day for Mercedes after persistent struggle in the season's opening two races.

Two-time world champion, Fernando Alonso, who clinched his 100th podium in Jeddah after finishing third will start fourth on the grid at the Australian GP. The other Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll is at sixth behind Ferrari's fifth-placed Carlos Sainz. Last year's Australian GP winner, Charles Leclerc, will line up at seventh.

It was a disappointing qualifying session for local boy Oscar Piastri of McLaren as he starts at 16th after being reprimanded for failure to notice the chequered flag.