F1

Max Verstappen headed the practice times on Friday at the Australian Grand Prix, his FP1 best proving quicker than Fernando Alonso's session-topper in a ...

The teams suggest no more rain is forecast right now, but it’s worth noting several of them didn’t expect what fell this afternoon to be as much or as heavy as it was. Ferrari concentrated on trying to fix the race tyre management issues that plagued it in Bahrain and Jeddah during FP1 – a shrewd move given it can rival Red Bull in qualifying. Therefore, if Red Bull doesn’t make the right adjustments and continues to have wild moments tomorrow, there’s the chance of an upset in qualifying. And because the Pirelli soft is a C4 this time, not a C5. The various interruptions and delays on Friday mean the teams currently lack almost all of their usual practice data, which means they will have to do plenty of educated guesswork overnight regarding what final tweaks to make for FP3, which is expected to be dry. This [led to several near-misses](https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/why-f1-drivers-seemed-blindfolded-by-melbourne-gps-issue/10450883/) between cars on different run plans that were going slowly and quickly at different times, so FP1 was red-flagged for nearly 10 minutes. Perez never got to try another flier, as the rain then rolled in and stopped the drivers improving. In FP2, Sainz and Verstappen exchanged early benchmark times at the top of the order before Alonso forged clear on a 1m18.887s – the trio running the medium tyres. With a few minutes of FP1 remaining, Logan Sargeant stopping coming out of Turn 11 due to an electrical problem meant the session was cut short. This occurred when Verstappen climbed hard onto the kerbs exiting Turn 4 and nearly speared into the track’s inside wall in a manner similar to the incident where Sebastian Vettel crashed out of last year’s race here for Aston Martin. In FP1, the pack had to contend with two invisible factors that set the story of that session. While there was less for the teams to go on than usual after Friday's disrupted running, unseen practice factors may perhaps offer Red Bull's rivals a glimmer of hope in Melbourne

Formula 1 has discussed the possibility of turning the Australian Grand Prix weekend into a night-race event. Night races have been increasing in popularity ...

So be open-minded is probably the simple answer.” Stefano Domenicali says that he has already discussed the possibility with race organisers and hinted that it could be implemented in the future. The Australian Grand Prix has long been present on F1’s calendar, with Albert Park in Melbourne being the host since 1996.

Follow the third F1 free practice session for the Australian GP live. Keep up to date with everything that happens during FP3 at Albert Park.

In the blog, we will provide you with the latest developments during FP3 in Melbourne. The times refresh automatically during the session, so you are always up to date. You can easily switch between live timing and the live blog via the tabs.

Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen set the fastest lap of opening practice for the 2023 FIA Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, beating Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton ...

As well as the red flag for Sargeant’s stoppage, the session was halted just past the halfway mark when an issue with the GPS system was detected. Verstappen, on softs, initially nudged Pérez out of P1 with a lap of 1:19.278 but then used the advantage of the softer tyres to stretch to a time of 1:18.790 that left him 0.503 ahead of his team-mate. The Dutch driver complained of problems with gear shifts before attributing the issue to rear brake problems. With teams unable to inform their drivers about approaching cars carrying large speed differences, FIA race officials quickly stopped the session to remedy the problem. With a couple of minutes to go Hamilton then split the Red Bulls with a lap of 1:19.223 that left him 0.433s off Verstappen. Despite taking top spot it wasn’t a straightforward session for championship leader Verstappen. Fourth place in the session went to Fernando Alonso, with the Aston Martin driver ahead of the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Sainz. Verstappen rose to the top of the order late in the session, first edging out team-mate Sergio Pérez who had led the way with a time of 1:19.293 set on medium tyres. Later in the session he also suffered a lurid high-speed spin when he took too much kerb on the exit of Turn 4 and spun off sideways. Lando Norris took seventh for McLaren ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Russell and Lance Stroll, who rounded out the top 10 in the other Aston Martin. The session effectively ended there, as moments after Hamilton had crossed the line, Williams’ Logan Sargeant ground to a halt at Turn 11 reporting a loss of power. Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen set the fastest lap of opening practice for the 2023 FIA Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, beating Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton by almost half a second, despite suffering a spin a session twice interrupted by red flags.

Max Verstappen set the fastest time of the day in Australian Grand Prix practice in Melbourne, but was only 0.097s quicker than Fernando Alonso across the two ...

[PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/how-vasseur-has-begun-ferraris-mission-to-keep-leclerc-on-side/10447929/) [Kevin Magnussen](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/kevin-magnussen/15905/) suffered an early off in his [Haas](https://www.motorsport.com/team/haas-f1-team/471/) at Turn 3, and later endured another wild ride at Turn 11. [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/why-drivers-are-the-least-of-ferraris-f1-worries/10448693/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/ranking-the-top-10-pre-war-grand-prix-drivers/10449084/) [Yuki Tsunoda](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/yuki-tsunoda/828523/) spun his [AlphaTauri](https://www.motorsport.com/team/toro-rosso/12/) through the gravel at Turn 1. [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/the-state-of-play-in-f1s-technical-silly-season/10449427/) [Ferrari](https://www.motorsport.com/team/ferrari/3/)’s [Charles Leclerc](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/charles-leclerc/109611/) going third but was six tenths away from the pace, with team-mate [Carlos Sainz](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/carlos-sainz/15916/) nine tenths adrift. [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/the-cycle-of-f1-upheaval-williams-must-end-to-rediscover-past-glories/10449522/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/how-f1s-new-era-has-exposed-the-downside-of-its-most-important-rule/10450392/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/lewis-hamilton/1278/) went third for [Mercedes](https://www.motorsport.com/team/mercedes/5/), three quarters of a second down despite a wild slide at Turn 9. After the resumption, Verstappen suffered a spin at Turn 4, blaming the state of his tyres. Verstappen then went even faster with a 1m18.790s, half a second quicker than Perez and almost a second up on the rest.

The 2023 Australian Grand Prix is upon us. Check out how to watch Hamilton, Verstappen and other stars in Melbourne on ESPN.

[dedicated site](/f1/) that reports on the championship year-round, with reporters on-site at every race. Thirteen races will air on ESPN, which is the most ever. ESPN's F1 reporters also contribute to the video podcast program [Unlapped](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4-rmh_kOHs), which appears year-round on the ESPN YouTube channel. ESPN platforms will air all 23 races in the championship, with 18 of the 23 airing on ABC or ESPN. The other five will air on ESPN2. The Australian Grand Prix will air on Sun., April 2, at 12:55 a.m.

'Holy smokes': Shock contender amid Aussie rule breach drama, Red Bull woes - F1 LIVE.

“I fully believe (that) and certainly when I came to the team, things were very different. Some cars continued to run on the dry tyres but failed to improve their times at all. Pierre Gasly, Alpine (+1.319) “We respect each other. And I think that’s something good to have as a driver. And as a team, we’ve always strived to give both drivers the best opportunity and the best equipment we can and then it’s down to what they do on track. Last year, he was definitely more at home within the car and two of our 17 victories he achieved. “Well, that’s the first I’ve heard him saying that,” Horner said. Pierre Gasly, Alpine (+0.529) Esteban Ocon, Alpine (+0.373) Practice is over for Lando.” “This is not entirely scheduled because there’s a very slim chance of rain and we lost Practice 2 essentially ...

The F1 Australian Grand Prix ramps up today, with all eyes at Albert Park to be on Saturday afternoon's qualifying. Will Red Bull driver and heavy favourite ...

For viewers planning to live stream F1 in 2023, you can watch via the Sky Go app if you're an existing subscriber or you can purchase For fans in Canada, TSN will carry the English-language telecast of races. Elsewhere, Sling TV will also show the action, as too will FuboTV in the US. For Spanish-language viewers, they can find live broadcasts on ESPN Deportes, though ESPNews and ESPNU will also show some practice and qualifying sessions live throughout the year. Time (AEDT) He also recorded the fastest-ever F1 lap around Albert Park - 1:17.565.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen edged Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso in Saturday's third free practice session for Formula 1's Australian Grand Prix. Filip Cleeren.

[PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/how-vasseur-has-begun-ferraris-mission-to-keep-leclerc-on-side/10447929/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/why-drivers-are-the-least-of-ferraris-f1-worries/10448693/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/ranking-the-top-10-pre-war-grand-prix-drivers/10449084/) [Logan Sargeant](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/logan-sargeant/289607/) (Williams) and [Kevin Magnussen](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/kevin-magnussen/15905/) (Haas) were next up, with De Vries and [Lando Norris](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/lando-norris/289316/) propping up the timesheets. [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/the-state-of-play-in-f1s-technical-silly-season/10449427/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/the-cycle-of-f1-upheaval-williams-must-end-to-rediscover-past-glories/10449522/) [Alpine](https://www.motorsport.com/team/alpine/24858/) of [Pierre Gasly](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/pierre-gasly/19626/) was fifth, followed by Perez, who saw two of his hot laps ruined by locking up under braking and taking to the run-off. [PrimePrimeFormula 1Australian GP ](/f1/news/the-recent-australian-gp-form-history-that-will-boost-ferrari-in-f1-2023/10449759/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/how-f1s-new-era-has-exposed-the-downside-of-its-most-important-rule/10450392/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1Australian GP ](/f1/news/why-piastris-f1-homecoming-will-be-a-landmark-occasion/10449894/) Following Friday's messy sessions, the loss of track time was even more costly for Perez than usual. [F1 Formula 1Australian GP ](/f1/news/f1-australian-gp-fp3-verstappen-fastest-alonso/10451258/)

Qualifying is under way at the 2023 Australian Grand Prix as the battle for grid positions at Albert Park intensifies.

[Lando Norris](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-drivers/lando-norris/) ( [McLaren](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-teams/mclaren/)) [Valtteri Bottas](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-drivers/valtteri-bottas/) (Alfa Romeo) [Alfa Romeo](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-teams/alfa-romeo-racing-orlen/)) [Kevin Magnussen](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-drivers/kevin-magnussen/) (Haas) [Yuki Tsunoda](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-drivers/yuki-tsunoda/) (AlphaTauri) [Esteban Ocon](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-drivers/esteban-ocon/) (Alpine) [Haas](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-teams/haas-f1-team/)): +1.003 [Pierre Gasly](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-drivers/pierre-gasly/) (Alpine): +0.943 [Carlos Sainz](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-drivers/carlos-sainz/) ( [Ferrari](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-teams/scuderia-ferrari/)): +0.538 [Williams](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-teams/williams-racing/)): +0.877 [Charles Leclerc](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-drivers/charles-leclerc/) (Ferrari): +0.647 [Lance Stroll](https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-drivers/lance-stroll/) (Aston Martin): +0.576