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LIVEBLOG: The 2019 Australian Grand Prix!

LIVEBLOG: The 2019 Australian Grand Prix!

17-03-2019 04:00
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Matt Gretton

Editor-in-Chief

It's here! It's time for action! We are green! Welcome to our liveblog of the 2019 Australian Grand Prix. It's been a long break, but we've made it through the winter, and we have a race on our hands! Will Lewis Hamilton bring it home from pole, or will Sebastian Vettel comeback to ruin the Mercedes party in his Ferrari? Or will we get a different winner? Follow our live coverage below to find the answers!

Max Verstappen, in his Honda-powered Red Bull, will also be trying to get a piece of the action, while Valtteri Bottas and Charles Leclerc are forecast to be hot on the heels. The weather in Melbourne is expected to be dry and around the 27c mark.

Daniel Ricciardo will start his first race for Renault at his home Grand Prix around Albert Park. Saturday's qualifying session wasn't the dream start for Ricciardo, but we've seen him come from far back before! And of course, one last major talking point... how will the new aerodynamic rule affect overtaking?

The weekend story so far! (Live blog below)

The coffee machine has worked overtime during the last two nights to help us get through the late nights/early mornings, but it has been worth it! The first session of the season started at 1 am (UK time) and it was Hamilton who finished top.

Hamilton went on to produce the Friday double, laying down an early marker. But the question was...who was sandbagging the most?

And it turned out to be Mercedes! Hamilton and Bottas blew their competitors away in Q3. Even Toto Wolff was shocked himself!

Your predictions

After qualifying, we asked you who you think would win the 2019 Australian Grand Prix. Unsurprisingly, Hamilton picked up 46% of the vote. Verstappen came second with 28% and Vettel got just 10% of the vote.

Let us know your updated predictions in the comments below, and on the live blog during the event!

Five things to look out for

  • The first corner will be frantic
  • Can Mercedes maintain their pace for the race duration?
  • Pierre Gasly moving through the field
  • Will the rookies (Lando Norris, Alex Albon and George Russell)continue to beat their team-mates?
  • Aerodynamic changes

The Liveblog