F1 2023 Australia GP LIVE: Max Verstappen leads with George Russell and Charles Leclerc out – updates and results
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)
RED FLAG! (Lap 56/58)
“So much debris out here,” says Hamilton. And there is a lot of debris around turn 2!
Oh wow! What drama here! They can all put on new tyres – and it will be a standing start you would have thought!
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 07:42
We have a safety car! (Lap 54/58)
Kevin Magnussen’s right rear tyre has gone, and it’s on track by turn 3!
SAFETY CAR! What happens now?!
Will anyone pit?! Can Hamilton hold Alonso behind him – or can Hamilton get right on Verstappen’s tail?
Will we get any racing laps in?!
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 07:40
Lando Norris makes the move on Nico Hulkenberg! (Lap 53/58)
Lando Norris up to eighth as he overtakes Nico Hulkenberg into turn 11, with the Haas just touching the gravel trap as he drops down to ninth!
1-10: Verstappen, Hamilton, Alonso, Sainz, Gasly, Stroll, Perez, Norris, Hulkenberg, Ocon
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 07:38
Lewis Hamilton extends margin to Fernando Alonso (Lap 52/58)
Lewis Hamilton now has a 1.8 second gap to Fernando Alonso…
Verstappen has increased his advantage to eight seconds after that small mishap.
Best battle on track right now? Lando Norris is all over the back of Nico Hulkenberg in the battle for eighth place, but the Haas holding his own so far!
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 07:36
Max Verstappen goes off track (Lap 49/58)
Wow, Max Verstappen goes off track at the final turn! He goes onto the grass but is able to go back onto the gravel…
“I keep front locking there!” Gap back down to 7.5 seconds!
10 laps to go… Verstappen’s comfortable afternoon just getting a bit more edgy!
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 07:32
Sergio Perez overtakes Lando Norris down the inside (Lap 44/58)
That Red Bull is just stupidly quick! Sergio Perez – after a valiant effort from Lando Norris – overtakes the McLaren down the inside into turn 9!
The Mexican up to P8! How much higher can Checo go? He’s less than a second behind Nico Hulkenberg now…
Hamilton has managed to stretch his lead, meanwhile, to Alonso to 1.7 seconds..
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 07:26
Max Verstappen’s lead to Lewis Hamilton now nearly 10 seconds (Lap 40/58)
Max Verstappen now has virtually the whole home straight to himself as he continues to increase his lead…
“These guys are quick behind mate,” Hamilton says. Yet he’s just set the fastest lap of the race! Gap to Alonso is still 1.2 seconds, perilously close to DRS range!
4-10: Sainz, Gasly, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Norris, Perez, Ocon
Oscar Piastri is seven seconds behind Esteban Ocon in P11; points look unlikely right now…
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 07:19
Lewis Hamilton sounds worried over team radio (Lap 35/58)
Lewis Hamilton is concerned about Fernando Alonso’s pace – with the gap now 1.2 seconds!
Hamilton voices his concerns over team radio about Aston’s strategy – but his engineer Peter Bonnington is keeping him calm! Mercedes need Hamilton to get these tyres until the end of the race…
This is what it’s about now – will any cars pit again?!
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 07:13
Max Verstappen sets a new fastest lap of the race (Lap 32/58)
It’s cruise control once again for Max Verstappen… even without DRS, he sets the fastest lap of the race once again! He’s more than eight seconds clear of Lewis Hamilton!
Fernando Alonso is, gradually, closing in on Hamilton – gap is now 1.6 seconds
4-10: Sainz, Gasly, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Norris, Perez, Ocon
Oscar Piastri, the hometown hero, is in P11. Can he somehow claim his first points in Formula 1 here?!
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 07:09
Carlos Sainz overtakes Pierre Gasly for P4! (Lap 27/58)
It’s been a great recovery from Carlos Sainz from P11 after the safety car – he’s up to fourth after selling Gasly the dummy into turn 3, before swooping up the inside!
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton now over six seconds from Max Verstappen, who has just set the fastest lap of the race too. Fernando Alonso’s gap to Hamilton? 2.3 seconds…
“A long way to go on this tyre, I don’t feel like it will go all the way,” says Hamilton.
Still plenty to play for here!
Kieran Jackson2 April 2023 07:04
