The 25th Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne has arrived with the action already underway at Albert Park as the four support categories complete their first order of business for the weekend.
It feels like a lifetime since Lewis Hamilton lifted his sixth Formula 1 World Championship trophy in Abu Dhabi last year, but motorsport fans need to wait no more with the season opener just around the corner.
Ahead of the first round of the year, motorsport.org.au previews the main event taking place over the weekend.
The Lineup
The 2020 drivers lineup looks almost identical to last year, with only two teams changing their drivers and a third going for a completely different look.
Former Racing Point driver and Mercedes test driver Esteban Ocon makes his grand return to the sport for the first time since 2018, with the Frenchman replacing Nico Hulkenberg as Motorsport Australia ambassador Daniel Ricciardo’s teammate at Renault.
Williams also made a change to their team with the popular Robert Kubica dropped for Canadian rookie Nicholas Latifi, who joins Englishman George Russell. Kubica joins Alfa Romeo as the team's reserve driver - a homecoming for the Pole after a successful stint with the team in its former guise as BMW Sauber.
While Toro Rosso’s two drivers will be the same in 2020, they won’t look the same with the team formally changing to a new name, AlphaTauri and running it for the first time this week.
Photo: Renault Sport Media
Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen
#7 Kimi Räikkönen
#99 Antonio Giovinazzi
AlphaTauri Honda
#10 Pierre Gasly
#26 Daniil Kvyat
Ferrari Mission Winnow
#5 Sebastian Vettel
#16 Charles Leclerc
Haas F1 Team
#8 Romain Grosjean
#20 Kevin Magnussen
McLaren F1 Team
#4 Lando Norris
#55 Carlos Sainz Jr.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
#44 Lewis Hamilton
#77 Valtteri Bottas
BWT Racing Point F1 Team
#11 Sergio Pérez
#18 Lance Stroll
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing
#23 Alexander Albon
#33 Max Verstappen
Renault F1 Team
#3 Daniel Ricciardo
#31 Esteban Ocon
ROKiT Williams Racing
#6 Nicholas Latifi
#63 George Russell
The Schedule
It’s business as usual for the world’s premier motorsport category with drivers getting two practice sessions on Friday afternoon, before a third one on Saturday afternoon sets up qualifying later in the day.
On Sunday, the season finally gets underway in its traditional time slot after the popular driver’s parade.
Friday 13 March
12:00-13:30 Practice One
16:00-17:30 Practice Two
Saturday 14 March
14:00-15:00 Practice Three
17:00-18:00 Qualifying
Sunday 15 March
14:30-15:00 Drivers Parade
16:10-18:10 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix Race
Last time they met
There was much anticipation behind the 2019 Formula 1 season – especially after Netflix’s highly praised Drive to Survive documentary was released in the weeks prior.
Under a beautiful blue sky, the season officially launched with a special event at Federation Square on the eve of the event. A full house was there to cheer on each team and driver as they spoke about the big race and year ahead.
A new team for Ricciardo, the return of fan favourite Robert Kubica and Alfa Romeo back on the roll call were just some of the small stories part of a bigger narrative, as the long wait for the season was finally over.
Photo: Mercedes Petronas Media/Steve Etherington
It was a nightmare weekend for Ricciardo as his first race in Renault colours ended in disaster after his front wing was ripped off before the first turn on the first lap - the team eventually pulling him from the race after just 28 laps.
At the other end of the field, Mercedes began their dominant season with Valtteri Bottas leading teammate Lewis Hamilton to the win, while Ricciardo’s former Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen rounded out the podium.
2019 TOP 10
1. Valtteri Bottas
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Max Verstappen
4. Sebastian Vette
5. Charles Leclerc
6. Kevin Magnussen
7. Nico Hulkenberg
8. Kimi Räikkönen
9. Lance Stroll
10. Daniil Kvyat