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Formula 1 Australian GP

F1 Australian GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP1 & FP2

Friday's action from the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Over two years on from the cancelled Australian GP due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, F1 makes its highly-anticipated return to a revamped Albert Park for 2022.

The key track changes see sections of the circuit widened, the Turn 9-10 chicane taken out to increase speeds in a flowing back section and the entire layout has been resurfaced. All changes have been made in the hope of increasing overtaking opportunities and creating more exciting races.

Sebastian Vettel is back in action for Aston Martin after missing the opening two races having tested positive for COVID-19.

Charles Leclerc leads the early F1 drivers’ world championship by 12 points from Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr, with reigning world champion Max Verstappen in third 20 points off Leclerc.

Opening practice for the Australian GP gets underway at 4am BST (1pm local time), followed by second practice which starts at 7am BST (4pm local time).

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Hamilton has also improved, moving to P7 on a 1m20.521s, just 0.03s faster than Tsunoda in P8.
We're starting to see more drivers bolt on softs now. Norris goes third on a 1m20.100s, while Gasly goes fifth on a 1m20.507s. But Bottas has to abort his lap after locking up and skating straight on across the gravel at Turn 1.
The top three have done their times on softs, with Alonso in fourth the fastest medium runner so far. His best, a 1m20.515s, is just under a second shy of Sainz's best.
Stopwatch
But Sainz goes again and despite a slower middle sector, goes purple in the first and final sectors to go quickest once more on a 1m19.568s.
Stopwatch
Leclerc though had no such troubles on his soft tyre lap and surges to the top spot on a 1m19.771s.
Sainz goes for another lap on the soft, but comes across a slow moving AlphaTauri on the racing line exiting Turn 2 and backs off - with much gesticulating.
Amid all that excitement, we neglected to inform you that Sainz is now atop the leaderboard on a 1m19.979s, continuing his fine form from FP1. Leclerc is second on 1m20.175s, still yet to crack a lap in the '19s bracket, with Bottas third for a Ferrari powered 1-2-3.
That means the only driver we're still yet to see is Vettel, who remember stopped on track with engine trouble in FP1.
Schumacher has now ventured out on track for Haas, but fumbles his braking at Turn 13 and has to select reverse to get himself out of the run-off area.
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"I'm still having the same issues mate," Verstappen radios in to engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. "I can't turn the car." He's been shuffled back to P7 in the times.
The FIA will investigate two instances of impeding, both involving Stroll at Turn 13, after the session.
Verstappen meanwhile has straightlined the Turn 10 chicane. To be fair to him, that was always the corner I found hardest playing F1 2001 on PS2 back in the day.
Russell's not the only one having trouble with the Mercedes, as Hamilton bounces wide over the gravel at Turn 14. Not often you see the seven-time world champion off the road.
Remember we were telling you that Bottas is good around here? He's just gone quickest on a 1m20.432s, despite Leclerc improving on his last tour with a:1m20.523s.
Remember we were telling you that Bottas is good around here? He's just gone quickest on a 1m20.432s, despite Leclerc improving on his last tour with a:1m20.523s.
Russell has a big old wiggle through Turn 2, but neatly catches the slide before it pitches him into the outside wall that has caught a fair few drivers out down the years. He's 11th at the moment for Mercedes, while Hamilton is currently P7.
Bottas traditionally goes well here and won the last time F1 successfully managed on-track running in Melbourne back in 2019. He goes third on a 1m21.371s, but is pushed back to fourth by Alonso - also a previous Australia winner for Renault back in 2006.
But McLaren's reign doesn't last for long as Leclerc goes fastest on a 1m20.898s. Sainz was quickest in the middle sector but had a big wobble at Turn 13 and then caught traffic in the final two corners to go second.
That one will go down well with the home fans. Norris is usurped by team-mate Ricciardo, who goes fastest on a 1m21.793s.
Stopwatch
Norris logs the early benchmark on a 1m21.852s - but remember, the ultimate pace from Sainz in FP1 was just under the 1m20s mark.
Over half the field is now out on track, including both McLarens, Mercedes, AlphaTauris, Ferraris, plus Ocon and Latifi. All appear to be on the medium, apart from Ocon, Tsunoda and Gasly.
There's plenty of activity right off the bat as both Alfas, Stroll and Norris all head out.
Lights green
And we're green in Melbourne for FP2.
Alex Kalinauckas reports from the paddock that it was starting to spit a few minutes ago. How will teams choose to play it?
Australia has of course seen plenty of wet weather GPs in its time. Who can forget the 1991 race, which was the shortest on record until Spa last year - or the madcap races of 2003 (David Coulthard's last win) or 2010 (Jenson Button's first for McLaren)?
We're being told that there's a 40% chance of rain for FP2, so expect teams to try and get their running in at the start of the session on the off-chance that it gets disrupted by the weather.
Air temperatures are 21.1 °C for FP2, with track temperatures at 32.4 °C.
Leclerc was one of many drivers to sample the Albert Park gravel traps, and provided a moment that will give many a wannabe F1 driver hope by plunging off the road straight out of the pits. Fortunately it wasn't quite with the same ferocity as Gerhard Berger at Estoril in 1993 though...
For those who enjoyed their lie-in (or should that be, regular sleep), Ferrari were on top in this morning's FP1 session as Carlos Sainz Jr led team-mate Charles Leclerc while Sergio Perez beat Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen to third.
Greetings to those of you joining us for FP2. We're a little under 20 minutes away from the session going green after a thrilling Supercars race in the interim won by Chaz Mostert. You can read the report here: https://www.autosport.com/supercars/news/albert-park-supercars-mostert-wins-wild-opening-race/9710883/
With that, it is time for a quick breather before FP2 which starts in 90 minutes. Time for a coffee.
Breaking news

And, in a story nobody expected, here's the developing situation on Vettel facing an investigation for riding a moped on the track at the end of FP1:

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/vettel-faces-investigation-for-moped-track-ride-after-australia-fp1/9709966/

Breaking news
Here's the full round-up on FP1: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-australian-gp-sainz-fastest-as-ferrari-lead-red-bull-in-fp1/9708950/
It is great to have Vettel back in F1 after missing the first two rounds, isn't it? But he might be in trouble for his scooter trip, as he is under investigation for entering the track without permission.
Absolute scenes and social media gold at the end of FP1, as Vettel takes to the track on a scooter to get back to the paddock having parked up his smoking Aston Martin earlier in the session. Where did he get the scooter from?

By: autosport.com

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