Max Verstappen has won his maiden F1 Australian Grand Prix following a chaotic race at Melbourne’s Albert Park.
The reigning champion was the heavy favourite coming into the race, but the Dutchman was overtaken by Mercedes duo George Russell and Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap.
Charles Leclerc’s gravel beaching caused an early safety car, before Alex Albon’s crash seven laps later resulted in the race being red-flagged.
Once the racing resumed, Verstappen asserted his dominance and built a commanding lead.
However, a late second red flag was shown after Kevin Magnussen lost his rear tire, leaving two dramatic laps to be completed.
Chaos and collisions ensued when the race restarted, headlined by a heavy crash between Alpine teammates Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon.
This led to a third red flag being shown, with the race ultimately concluding behind a safety car.
MORE: F1 schedule 2023: Dates, start times, TV, live stream
F1 Australian Grand Prix 2023 results
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 25 |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 19 |
| 3 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 15 |
| 4 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 12 |
| 5 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 10 |
| 6 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 8 |
| 7 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | 6 |
| 8 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 4 |
| 9 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo | 2 |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTuari | 1 |
| 11 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | |
| 12 | Carlos Sainz* | Ferrari | |
| DNF | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | |
| DNF | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | |
| DNF | Nyck de Vries | AlphaTauri | |
| DNF | Logan Sargeant | Williams | |
| DNF | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | |
| DNF | George Russell | Mercedes | |
| DNF | Alex Albon | Williams | |
| DNF | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
*Denotes five-second penalty
Max Verstappen finally claims maiden Australian Grand Prix victory
It was only a matter of time before Verstappen picked up his first win at the Australian Grand Prix.
He finished third in 2019, witnessed the race be cancelled twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and suffered a car breakdown last year.
This time though, he got his win – and it was richly deserved.
Verstappen dropped back two places on the first lap but kept a cool head, eventually overtaking Hamilton for the lead after the first red flag.
From that point on he put his head down in typical fashion, establishing a commanding lead that couldn’t be eclipsed, even after two late dramatic red flags.
Carlos Sainz hit with late penalty, misses out on points
After battling for a podium position for the majority of the race, Sainz’s experience at Albert Park came to a frustrating end.
The Ferrari driver clipped Alonso during the second red flag restart, resulting in the race stewards handing him a five-second time penalty.
The decision was controversial because the FIA re-established the race order according to how it was set prior to the restart, meaning Alonso had not lost his place, and the lap was effectively discounted.
“No! It’s unacceptable. They need to wait until the race is finished and then discuss it with me,” Sainz said on the team radio.
As a result of the penalty, he dropped to P12, with the drivers crossing the finish line in a tight pack.
The Spaniard declined to comment on the issue when interviewed post-race by Sky Sports F1.
Oscar Piastri picks up points on home debut
It may not have panned out the way he expected, but Piastri will surely not be complaining about securing points in his first F1 race in Australia.
The Melbourne-born product started in P16 but drove maturely to finish P8 and score his maiden championship points.
His McLaren teammate Lando Norris also performed well, finishing in sixth place.
Who won F1 Driver of the Day at the Australian Grand Prix?
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was voted as the F1 Driver of the Day after his impressive performance at Albert Park.
The Mexican surged up from a pit lane start to finish P5.
VAMOOOOS CHECO!!!! 🙌
The Mexican is your @salesforce Driver Of The Day! 🎉
From a pit-lane start to a points-finish, take a bow @SChecoPerez! 👏👏👏#AusGP #F1 @redbullracing pic.twitter.com/OpHqUfdrDV
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 2, 2023
F1 Australian Grand Prix 2023 updates, highlights: As it happened
CHEQUERED FLAG: Max Verstappen wins the 2023 F1 Australian Grand Prix!!!
Well, that was quite something. It ended in an underwhelming and bizarre fashion, but the race was filled with chaos, collisions, and confusion.
Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso join Verstappen on the podium as part of an unlikely set of point-scoring drivers.
Lap 58: We are back out on track (yet again) for a lap behind the safety car.
30 mins since red flag: Sainz has been handed a five-second penalty for his collision with Alonso.
25 mins since red flag: The race will be restarted for the third (!!) time in 10 minutes at 17:33 local time.
15 mins since red flag: This race WILL be restarted, however, it will happen under a safety car. The safety car will then peel in before the drivers cross the finish line.
The driver order for the final lap is Verstappen, Hamilton, Alonso, Sainz, Stroll, Perez, Norris, Hülkenberg, Piastri, Guanyu, Tsunoda, and Bottas.
This is because the cars did not complete the first sector of the track from the second restart, meaning the FIA could not determine an accurate new order.
5 mins since red flag: A lot happened in that restart, but this is what we’ve seen so far:
- Gasly locks up in Turn 1
- Alonso is clipped from behind by Sainz and finishes on the grass
- Sargeant rams into the back of de Vries, and both drivers end on the gravel trap
- Ocon collides with Gasly’s rear moments later, causing both drivers to smash into the wall
RED FLAG: No surprises here, as a third red flag is shown.
The race stewards have announced that the restart procedure is under investigation, as we wait to see how this race will end.
🚩 RED FLAG 🚩
MULTIPLE CARS ARE OUT!!! #AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/zycwEEjlWs
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 2, 2023
Lap 57: Absolute carnage from the restart!! Multiple cars go off in a messy first corner before the Alpine duo of Gasly and Ocon collide and crash hard into a barrier.
15 mins since red flag: Here we go… Cars are back out on track for what is set to be a frenetic finale. The race will resume in a standing start format.
5 mins since red flag: The race will resume in less than 10 minutes at 16:56 local time.
RED FLAG: Again! The drivers have been pulled in to ensure we get some racing action to finish the race. There will be two laps left to complete when we eventually resume.
Lap 54: SAFETY CAR! Magnussen’s right rear tire has completely come off, but the Dane has managed to move to the side of the track. His tire, however, is on the track, so a safety car has been called.
LAP 54/58
⚠️ SAFETY CAR ⚠️
K-Mag is stopped and looks to be missing a right rear tyre#AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/voBWDd69sJ
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 2, 2023
Piastri and Zhou have pitted with the hope that racing will resume before lap 58.
Lap 52: Lando gets his man with a crafty overtake against Hülkenberg. The McLaren driver moves up to P8 now.
Lap 48: An uncomfortable moment for Verstappen, who locks his tires and runs onto the grass. He still holds a commanding lead, but is clearly agitated on the radio.
Lap 46: Perez is still on a tear. The Mexican is now in P7 after starting from the pit lane. Stroll is the next driver in his sights, but he has over four seconds to chase down.
Lap 41: Tasty battle emerging for the podium places… Fourth-placed Sainz is almost within a second of Alonso, who is just over a second behind Hamilton. Gasly is also still hot on their heels.
Lap 37: Logan Sargeant is the first driver to return to the pits for new tires. With 20 laps remaining, will we see any more drivers stop for a fresh set?
Lap 36: George Russell has wasted no time hopping on Twitter to share his frustration…
When it’s not your day, it’s not your day.
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) April 2, 2023
Lap 35: It is also worth noting Nico Hülkenberg’s impressive race so far. The veteran is currently in P7 and is showing no sign of slowing down.
Lap 32: In typical fashion, Verstappen has quietly established a dominant advantage. He now leads Hamilton by over eight seconds.
Lap 28: Both Alpine drivers are having positive races today. Gasly has generally held his own in P5, whilst Ocon has charged from further back to sit in the points.
Lap 23: We’re not even halfway through this race, but Perez has worked his way into the points. Taking full advantage of Red Bull’s stunning DRS pace.
Lap 20: We have resumed with a top three of Verstappen, Hamilton and Alonso. Five seconds separate the trio.
Lap 18: VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR! George Russell is out of the race after his power unit appeared to fail and set on fire. The young Briton emerges from the car safely but is clearly disappointed after having such a good start.
LAP 18/58
It goes from bad to worse for George Russell…
He is forced to retire as fire and smoke emerges from his car #AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/umJP1NDrqY
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 2, 2023
Lap 15: Some nice battles behind the podium places, with Russell pushing his way to fourth spot. Gasly, Sainz and Stroll are also in a tense fight for P5.
Lap 12: Verstappen takes the lead! The reigning champion gets within the DRS zone of Hamilton and pounces on a sweeping corner. He then speeds off in his Red Bull and establishes a two-second lead by the end of the lap.
Lap 9: We’re back underway, and Hamilton holds his lead! Russell has worked his way up to P5. Nyck de Vries went briefly airborne and off track after a collision with Esteban Ocon but is still racing.
15 mins since red flag: The cars are making their way back onto the track. The race will restart in a standing start format on the grid.
5 mins since red flag: The race will resume in 10 minutes at 15:33 local time.
RED FLAG: The resulting mess of gravel and debris from Albon’s crash has led to the race director calling for a red flag. Cars will now return to the pit lane.
It’s a cruel blow for Russell, who is now stuck in P7. His Mercedes teammate Hamilton, however, will now assume first position when the race restarts.
Lap 7: SAFETY CAR! Alex Albon has lost control and had a crash, leading to the second safety car of the race. A shame for the Williams driver, who was in a promising P7. He has jumped out of the car and is okay.
LAP 7/58
ALEX ALBON IS OUT OF THE RACE! ❌
It’s all over for the Williams Racing driver at Turn 7 #AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/3oGMyiovrX
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 2, 2023
Some more drivers have come in for hard tires, including race leader Russell.
Lap 6: Verstappen is on a mission to take back his spot, setting the fastest lap of the race. However, he remains behind the Mercedes duo of Russell and Hamilton.
Lap 3: We’re back underway! Russell has a very strong re-start, pushing ahead by nearly a second. A number of drivers – including Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez – have pitted for hard tires and will potentially look to go the distance.
Lap 1: SAFETY CAR! Charles Leclerc’s race is over after being bumped by Lance Stroll. The Monegasque driver finds himself beached in the gravel trap in another case of bad luck.
LIGHTS OUT: We’re underway in Melbourne and George Russell takes the lead after the first corner!! Lewis Hamilton also overtakes Verstappen a few turns later in a perfect start for Mercedes!
2 mins to lights out: The formation lap is underway for the 2023 edition of the F1 Australian Grand Prix.
10 mins to lights out: Perez will be starting from the pits for Red Bull, but team principal Christian Horner is still confident he can collect points.
“It is a tough track to pass at, and we have two different races going on here today. Let’s hope we can get a good result at the end,” Horner told Channel 10. “P8 is our projection (for Perez).”
15 mins to lights out: It’s now time for the singing of the Australian National Anthem.
20 mins to lights out: The Ferrari duo of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will begin from P5 and P7 today after a disappointing qualifying session. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur feels that the Scuderia underperformed on Saturday, but thinks they can turn it around.
“Yes, we are a bit frustrated because we had the potential to do well (in qualifying),” Vassuer told Channel 10. “I hope we will be able to show (our ability) today.”
30 mins to lights out: Perez and Bottas nearly have a collision as they make their way around the track. No damage done, but that certainly could’ve made things go from bad to worse for the two drivers starting from pit lane.
40 mins to lights out: The cars are beginning to exit their garages and make their way onto the track. No late dramas, it appears.
We have a green light at the end of the pit lane! 🟢
Out head the cars for a few laps prior to heading towards the grid 💪#AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/w81h0t6wR3
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 2, 2023
1 hour to lights out: Plenty of eyes this afternoon will be on Melbourne-born rookie Oscar Piastri. Remarkably, the McLaren driver has not raced in his home country since he was a young go-karter.
He will start the Grand Prix from 16th position after an underwhelming qualifying session.
1 hour 15 mins to lights out: F1 officials have announced that Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas will both start today’s race from the pit lane after deciding to alter their cars under parc fermé regulations.
Perez (new PU components) qualified in last place after failing to complete Q1, whilst Bottas (suspension change) was in line to begin from P19.
Bottas’ teammate Zhou Guanyu and Williams driver Logan Sargeant will now make up the newly-formed back row of the grid for this afternoon’s race.
1 hour 30 mins to lights out: The drivers’ parade is finishing up, with all 20 competitors being driven around the circuit in front of the lively Australian crowd. Conditions are mostly sunny, with a comfortable temperature of 19C/66F.
It’s a beautiful day to go racing 😎 #AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/0axmjvncMx
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 2, 2023
2 hours to lights out: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of the 2023 Australian Grand Prix! Anticipation is building at Albert Park for the third race of this F1 campaign.
F1 Australian Grand Prix 2023 starting grid
| Position | Driver | Qualifying time |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | 1:16.732 |
| 2 | George Russell | 1:16.968 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | 1:17.104 |
| 4 | Fernando Alonso | 1:17.139 |
| 5 | Carlos Sainz | 1:17.270 |
| 6 | Lance Stroll | 1:17.308 |
| 7 | Charles Leclerc | 1:17.369 |
| 8 | Alex Albon | 1:17.609 |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly | 1:17.675 |
| 10 | Nico Hulkenberg | 1:17.735 |
| 11 | Esteban Ocon | 1:17.768 |
| 12 | Yuki Tsunoda | 1:18.099 |
| 13 | Lando Norris | 1:18.119 |
| 14 | Kevin Magnussen | 1:18.129 |
| 15 | Nyck de Vries | 1:18.335 |
| 16 | Oscar Piastri | 1:18.517 |
| 17 | Zhou Guanyu | 1:18.540 |
| 18 | Logan Sargeant | 1:18.557 |
| PIT | Valtteri Bottas | 1:18.714 |
| PIT | Sergio Perez | DNF |
MORE: Verstappen claims Australian Grand Prix pole, Mercedes impress
What time does the Australian F1 Grand Prix start?
- Date: Sunday, April 2
- Start time: 6 a.m. GMT / 1 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. local time
Sunday’s 2023 Australian Grand Prix is slated to start at 3 p.m. local time.
Below is the complete schedule for the weekend’s F1 events in Melbourne.
| Date | Event | Time (GMT) | Time (ET) | Time (AEDT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Mar 31 | Practice 1 | 02:30 | 21:30 (Mar 30) | 12:30 |
| Friday, Mar 31 | Practice 2 | 06:00 | 01:00 | 16:00 |
| Saturday, Apr 1 | Practice 3 | 02:30 | 21:30 (Mar 31) | 12:30 |
| Saturday, Apr 1 | Qualifying | 06:00 | 01:00 | 16:00 |
| Sunday, Apr 2 | Race | 06:00 | 01:00 | 15:00 (AEST) |
What TV channel is F1 on?
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | |
| TV Channel | Sky Sports F1 | ESPN/ABC | TSN (English); RDS (French) | Fox Sports; Channel 10 |
Where can I live stream F1?
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | |
| Live Stream | NOW TV / Sky Go app | ESPN+ | fuboTV, TSN Direct | Kayo |
F1 season schedule 2023
In 2023, the Formula One Calendar is made up of 23 races across four different continents.
The action began with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 5 and will end on November 26 in Abu Dhabi.
Here’s the latest schedule (subject to change):
| Date | Race |
| March 5 | Bahrain Grand Prix |
| March 19 | Saudi Arabia Grand Prix |
| April 2 | Australian Grand Prix |
| April 30 | Azerbaijan Grand Prix |
| May 7 | Miami Grand Prix |
| May 21 | Emilia Romagna Grand Prix |
| May 28 | Monaco Grand Prix |
| June 4 | Spanish Grand Prix |
| June 18 | Canadian Grand Prix |
| July 2 | Austrian Grand Prix |
| July 9 | British Grand Prix |
| July 23 | Hungarian Grand Prix |
| July 30 | Belgian Grand Prix |
| August 27 | Dutch Grand Prix |
| September 3 | Italian Grand Prix |
| September 17 | Singapore Grand Prix |
| September 24 | Japanese Grand Prix |
| October 8 | Qatari Grand Prix |
| October 22 | United States Grand Prix |
| October 29 | Mexican Grand Prix |
| November 5 | Brazilian Grand Prix |
| November 19 | Las Vegas Grand Prix |
| November 26 | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
How to watch Formula 1 in the US
- TV channel: ABC; ESPN
- Live stream: FuboTV / Hulu / Sling TV
F1 fans in the USA can catch all the action in 2023 with all 23 races set to be shown live on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. 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.
As well as on the official F1 TV service, the action can be live streamed on Hulu + Live TV with subscriptions. Elsewhere, Sling TV will also show the action, as too will FuboTV in the US.
How to watch Formula 1 in Canada
- TV channel: TSN (English); RDS (French)
- Live stream: TSN Direct
For fans in Canada, TSN will carry the English-language telecast of races. For those looking for the French-language broadcast, RDS will have you covered.
Races can be streamed on fuboTV and via TSN’s streaming service, TSN Direct.
How to watch Formula 1 in the United Kingdom
- TV channel: Sky Sports F1
- Live stream: NOW TV / Sky Go app
Viewers in the United Kingdom can catch all F1 action on Sky Sports F1, the dedicated F1 channel. 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 a Sky Sports Pass on NOW TV.
How to watch Formula 1 in Australia
- TV channel: Fox Sports; Channel 10
- Live stream: Kayo
Fox Sports will carry all races in Australia for the 2023 season.