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Formula 1 Australian GP

F1 Australian GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race

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

Mick Schumacher, Haas VF-22, Esteban Ocon, Alpine A522

Over two years on from the cancelled Australian GP due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, F1 returns to a revamped Albert Park.

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.

F1 world championship leader Charles Leclerc starts from pole position for Ferrari ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in an eventful qualifying which saw two red flags.

Fernando Alonso crashed in Q3 and Nicholas Latifi and Lance Stroll collided during Q1 which resulted in the Aston Martin driver picking up a three-place grid penalty. Alex Albon was disqualified from qualifying due to an insufficient fuel sample left in his Williams and will also start at the back.

The Australian GP gets underway at 6am BST (3pm local time).

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Safety car
The Virtual Safety Car has turned into a full safety car now. So everyone will bunch up for a restart.
Wow. Replays show Sainz was lucky not to collect any of his rivals after losing control on the grass at the fast sweeper.
Safety car
The Virtual Safety Car has been deployed with Sainz stuck at the side of the track.
Leclerc has a 0.7s lead at the end of the second lap over Verstappen, with Hamilton 1.5s back on the Red Bull.
Sainz is now beached in the gravel at the exit of Turn 10.
Sainz has lost another position on the opening lap. He sits in P14 having started on the hard tyres.
Norris drops to sixth behind Russell at the start, a really poor start for the McLaren driver, but no major dramas on the first lap.
Slow start for Carlos Sainz. The Ferrari driver drops from P9 down to P13.
Lights green
The Australian GP is go! Leclerc keeps the lead from Verstappen and Hamilton is up to third place at Turn 1 - super start by the Mercedes driver!
All away cleanly on the formation lap, as the F1 car snake makes its way to the starting grid. Here we go.
As the formation lap gets underway, it is worth keeping an eye on Alonso, starting from P10. There was plenty of work being carried out on his car on the grid.
Lights green
The tyre blankets are coming off and the formation lap is about to start.
Breaking news
Tyre news: Sainz, Alonso, Magnussen, Vettel, Stroll and Albon all start on the hards, everyone else starts on the mediums.
According to Pirelli's tyre data, this race is fully expected to be a one-stopper if everything goes to plan, starting on the mediums before switching to the hards. Let's see how many go for an alternative strategy.

A story which grabbed attention at the start of the weekend was the reminder in the race directors' notes that the drivers cannot wear jewellery in the cars, but Hamilton still has a few ear piercings on as he puts on his balaclava. There is a grace period for this, but that could cause trouble.

Sun

Weather watch: Bright and sunny conditions and there is a 0% chance of rain for the race, with air temp at a pleasant 26.1c and track temp at 31.9c. Lovely.

It is time for the national anthem and for anthem fans out there the Australian one is a banger. Ricciardo's smile is almost breaking through his mask as he nods along to Advance Australia Fair.
So, Leclerc vs Verstappen at the front which feels like a theme of 2022 so far. It is 1-1 between them, who can strike in Australia? Or will a surprise package emerge?
The atmosphere at Albert Park is building nicely having been a party atmosphere all weekend. An estimated 420,000 fans have made it to the track over the full Australian GP which is fantastic after so long away.
It has been three years since the last Australian GP - given the 2020 event didn't get further than Thursday - a long time since a race in this part of the world. A warm welcome to our friends in Europe, what's the strategy, coffee or something stronger?
G'day one and all! Just a little under 30 minutes until lights out for the Australian GP - who is excited?

By: autosport.com

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