The 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship is well and truly underway with two rounds having already been completed and this week’s Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix the next stop for the premier racing category.
 
Already, Red Bull has asserted its dominance over the competition with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez both with a race win apiece. Verstappen, the reigning champion, sits on top of the standings after picking up the fastest lap in Saudi Arabia.
 
Now, the third round of the season has arrived and it’s Albert Park which will once again have the honour of hosting the world’s best drivers in what should be an exciting contest.
 
Although the two Red Bulls are vying for championship honours and the resurgence of Fernando Alonso in a quick Aston Martin are likely to be the major talking points around the world,  it’s the home debut of Oscar Piastri which will undoubtedly be one of the biggest storylines to emerge at the event.
 
Piastri had a disappointing initiation into Formula 1 in Bahrain with his debut lasting just 14 laps, but his performance in Saudi Arabia certainly gave Aussie fans something to get excited about, despite not scoring points.


Now the Victorian will be hopeful he can pick up his first career championship points on home soil, with another record home crowd to be cheering him on.
 
In 2022, the Australian Grand Prix returned in spectacular fashion as more than 400,000 people entered through the gates at Albert Park across the four-day weekend, with an even bigger crowd expected this year.
 
Piastri won’t be the only driver flying the Aussie flag in international championships this weekend, with Jack Doohan in Formula 2 and Hugh Barter, Christian Mansell and Tommy Smith all racing in the FIA Formula 3 Championship.
   
It’s an exciting time for the sport with this weekend being the first time in history the Formula 2 and Formula 3 Championships compete down under.


Bumper fields will make up Formula 2 and Formula 3 grids as the best young talent from around the world looks to graduate into the top tier in years to come.
 
In addition to three international open-wheel categories, the Repco Supercars Championship and Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will round out the schedule.
 
A busy schedule both on track and off track awaits fans planning to attend with the main event, the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix taking place at 3pm AEST on Sunday.  
 
The full event will be broadcast via Fox Sports and Kayo, while Network Ten will show plenty of coverage of the weekend across Channel 10 and 10Play.
 
The Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix takes place at Albert Park on 30 March – 2 April.
 

Gates Open

Thursday, 30 March - 09:30am AEDT
Friday, 31 March - 08:30 AEDT
Saturday, 1 April - 09:00 AEDT
Sunday, 2 April - 08:30 AEST

On Track schedule

Thursday, 30 March - 10:00am – 6:35pm AEDT
Friday, 31 March - 08:50am – 6:55pm AEDT
Saturday, 1 April - 09:30 – 6:55pm AEDT
Sunday, 2 April - 08:30 – 6:00pm AEST 

Formula 1 Schedule

Practice 1: 12:30pm – 1:30pm AEDT
Practice 2: 4:00pm – 5:00pm AEDT
Practice 3: 12:30pm – 1:30pm AEDT
Qualifying: 4:00pm – 5:00pm AEDT
Driver Parade: 1:00pm – 1:30pm AEDT
Race: 3:00pm AEST

Formula 1 Entry list

1 - Max Verstappen - Oracle Red Bull Racing
11 - Sergio Perez - Oracle Red Bull Racing
16 - Charles Leclerc - Scuderia Ferrari
55 - Carlos Sainz - Scuderia Ferrari
63 - George Russell - Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team
44 - Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team
31 - Esteban Ocon - BWT Alpine F1 Team
10 - Pierre Gasly - BWT Alpine F1 Team
4 - Lando Norris - McLaren Formula 1 Team
81 - Oscar Piastri - McLaren Formula 1 Team
77 - Valtteri Bottas - Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen
24 - Guanyu ZhouAlfa - Romeo F1 Team Orlen
18 - Lance Stroll - Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula 1 Team
14 - Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula 1 Team
20 - Kevin Magnussen - MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
27 - Nico Hulkenberg - MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
21 - Nyck de Vries - Scuderia AlphaTauri
22 - Yuki Tsunoda - Scuderia AlphaTauri
23 - Alex Albon - Williams Racing
2 - Logan Sargeant- Williams Racing