This is how the previous edition of the Australian Grand Prix went

The Australian Grand Prix has been cancelled twice due to the corona pandemic, and so for the first time in three years, the Albert Park circuit will be raced again. How did the previous Formula 1 race in Melbourne go?

Formula 1 did settle down in Melbourne in 2020, but at the very last minute everyone was sent home due to rising corona infections worldwide. Therefore, we go back one more year and look at how the 2019 Australian Grand Prix went.

Grand Prix of Australia 2019

Until the start on Sunday, the weekend was dominated as ever by Mercedes, especially by Lewis Hamilton. The Briton topped the timesheets in all free practice sessions and also managed to take pole position, with his faithful companion Valtteri Bottas alongside him in second place on the grid.

At the start, however, it was Bottas who managed to surprise. The Finn had worked hard on himself over the winter and it showed: 'Bottas 2.0' overtook teammate Hamilton immediately after the start and did not relinquish his leading position. Hamilton also held on to his second place.

Verstappen battles it out with Ferrari for the podium

Meanwhile, the battle for the final podium position erupted between Max Verstappen and Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel. Leclerc, making his debut with Ferrari, caught up with Verstappen and then went on to battle with his teammate. Vettel managed to keep him behind and Verstappen took fourth place back from Leclerc.

Later in the race, the Dutchman also caught up with Vettel, securing his first podium finish of the year. Pierre Gasly, making his debut alongside Verstappen at Red Bull Racing, failed to live up to the potential of his RB15 and finished no further than eleventh.

Kevin Magnussen finished the race in a handsome sixth place behind Vettel and Leclerc. Behind him it was Nico Hulkenberg, Kimi Raikkonen, Lance Stroll and Daniil Kvyat who completed the top ten. Lando Norris finished twelfth in his Formula One debut. Alexander Albon and George Russell also made their debut, finishing in fourteenth and sixteenth place respectively.