F1 LIVE | Qualifying for the 2023 Australian Grand Prix

With all free practice behind us, it is time for the first showdown of the Formula 1 weekend at Albert Park: qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix is about to begin and we will keep you updated on all the action on the track via this liveblog.

F1 LIVE: Qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix

After recording two double wins in a row, Red Bull Racing go into qualifying in Melbourne as the clear favourites. Max Verstappen is just one point ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez, who is trying to stay in the mix for his first world championship fight. So possibly the biggest challenge for the team will be to keep the drivers under control. 

However, the other Formula 1 teams will be trying to disrupt things. Fernando Alonso has not lost sight of the Red Bulls and will do everything he can to get the best possible starting position for the race. The Ferrari drivers are also waiting for their chance and may be able to step up in qualifying.

 

 

 

 

 

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Best of the rest 

Behind the top four, Alpine are in no man's land, after which the rest of the teams are very close for the final points. Haas scored a point in Jeddah, Alfa Romeo and Williams did so in Bahrain. Alpha Tauri and McLaren are furthest away from the points so far, although Oscar Piastri did make it to Q3 in Jeddah and Yuki Tsunoda twice finished narrowly outside the points with P11. If the top five teams finish, all these teams will have to do without points. If anyone at the front drops out, it will be a fight for the scraps that remain.

At Albert Park, Michael Schumacher is still the record holder with four wins. Ferrari are also the most successful team with nine wins in total. Charles Leclerc won last year's edition. Of the current drivers on the grid, Lewis Hamilton is the only one with two wins behind his name. Besides Leclerc, Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas are the only other drivers with a victory in Melbourne. Verstappen only has one podium to his name in Australia.