Australian Grand Prix schedule: Early (or late) starts!

 Despite all the uncertainty surrounding the race with the COVID-19 epidemic, the Australian Grand Prix will go ahead as planned on Sunday in Melbourne. It will be a busy week, and here are all the key dates and times.

Normally, we would just be counting down the days until the new F1 season gets underway at Albert Park in March. It was different this year with the coronavirus epidemic, however, with the virus claiming thousands of lives worldwide. The first leg of the season was in doubt of actually going ahead, with Italian teams in particular facing severe traveling limitations.

Fortunately, it currently looks like the first Grand Prix of the season will go ahead on schedule. Spectators will also be allowed in, something which can't be said for the Bahrain Grand Prix later this month - that will become the first F1 race ever behind closed doors.

Race week starts on Wednesday

Normally, race weeks start on Thursdays, but the Australian Grand Prix is an exception to that rule. Why is that? Renault are unveiling their 2020 challenger on Wednesday at 8.00am UK time (3.00am EST). The French works team has quite literally not shown its true colours yet, running a special testing livery at Barcelona last month.

From Thursday onwards, it's business as usual. The drivers' press conference and media duties will take place, although the FIA have yet to reveal what drivers will be present at the official press conference. 

After that, the 2020 F1 season officially kicks off with FP1 at Albert Park on Friday.

Australian Grand Prix time schedule

• Free Practice 1: Friday March 13th, 1.00AM - 2.30AM UK time (8.00PM - 9.30PM EST)
• Free Practice 2: Friday March 13th, 5.00AM - 6.30AM UK time (12.00AM - 1.30AM EST)
• Free Practice 3: Saturday March 14th, 3.00AM - 4.00AM UK time (10.00PM - 11.00PM EST)
• Qualifying: Saturday March 14th, 6.00AM - 7.00AM UK time (1.00AM - 2.00AM EST)
• Race: Sunday March 15th, 5.10AM UK time (12.10AM EST)