2019 Australian Grand Prix

File:Fed Square August 2007.jpg hosted the first Formula One season launch.]]

The Australian Grand Prix was officially confirmed as the first of twenty-one races of the 2019 Formula One World Championship at an FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris in December 2018. The race took place at the sixteen-turn, {{convert|5.303|km|mi|abbr=on}} Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Victoria on 17 March 2019. Melbourne's Federation Square hosted a season launch event, the first of its kind for the sport, in the week before the race.{{cite news|url=https://www.speedcafe.com/2019/01/30/federation-square-to-host-first-formula-1-season-launch/|title=Federation Square to host first Formula 1 season launch|first=Dan|last=Herrero|work=speedcafe.com|publisher=Speedcafe|date=30 January 2019|access-date=16 February 2019}}

Race Director Charlie Whiting died suddenly in the week before the race, so Deputy Race Director Michael Masi was named as Whiting's temporary successor.{{cite news|url=https://www.fia.com/news/fia-statement-charlie-whiting|title=FIA Statement – Charlie Whiting|date=14 March 2019|work=fia.com|publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|access-date=14 March 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/47564762|title=Charlie Whiting: F1 race director dies aged 66 on eve of season-opener in Melbourne|date=14 March 2019|publisher=BBC|work=BBC Sport|access-date=14 March 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.speedcafe.com/2019/03/14/australian-michael-masi-appointed-f1-race-director/|title=Australian Michael Masi appointed F1 race director|first1=Tom|last1=Howard|first2=Mat|last2=Coch|work=speedcafe.com|publisher=Speedcafe|date=14 March 2019|access-date=14 March 2019}} Local officials were appointed to fill Whiting's additional roles until a long-term appointment could be made ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Masi remained the Race Director until the conclusion of the 2021 season.

{{Further|2019 Formula One World Championship#Entries}}File:2014 Rallye Deutschland by 2eight 8SC0282.jpg returned to Formula One after suffering life-threatening injuries in a 2011 rallying accident.]]

Twenty drivers representing ten teams entered the race.{{cite web |url=https://www.fia.com/file/78124/download |title=2019 Australian Grand Prix – Entry List |publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date=14 March 2019 |access-date=14 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314182130/https://www.fia.com/file/78124/download |archive-date=14 March 2019 |url-status=live }} Alfa Romeo Racing made their return to the sport, replacing the Sauber F1 Team as part of a sponsorship deal that started in {{F1|2018}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/sauber-becomes-alfa-romeo-racing/4331468/|title=Sauber F1 team renamed Alfa Romeo Racing|date=1 February 2019|website=motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=16 February 2019}} Racing Point also made their début as an independent constructor, having acquired the assets of the Sahara Force India team and having competed under the Force India name in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.force-india-become-racing-point-for-2019.6vXH20iJvaGeAAUcma2gYS.html|title=Force India become Racing Point for 2019|date=1 December 2018|website=Formula1.com|access-date=16 February 2019}} Alexander Albon, Lando Norris and George Russell all made their competitive débuts.{{cite web|url=https://scuderiatororosso.redbull.com/en_INT/article/albon-driver-toro-rosso-2019|title=Albon to drive for Toro Rosso in 2019|work=scuderiatororosso.redbull.com|publisher=Scuderia Toro Rosso|access-date=16 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126223020/https://scuderiatororosso.redbull.com/en_INT/article/albon-driver-toro-rosso-2019|archive-date=26 November 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mclaren.com/formula1/team/lando-norris/lando-norris-drive-mclaren-2019/|title=Lando Norris to drive for McLaren in 2019|work=mclaren.com|publisher=McLaren F1 Team|access-date=16 February 2019|archive-date=3 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903151214/https://www.mclaren.com/formula1/team/lando-norris/lando-norris-drive-mclaren-2019/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.how-russell-sealed-a-2019-drive-with-williams.1a3gvRGoVaMa4gQ2wUMmMU.html|title=How Russell sealed a 2019 drive with Williams|work=Formula1.com|access-date=16 February 2019}} Meanwhile, Antonio Giovinazzi, Robert Kubica and Daniil Kvyat all returned to the championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.racefans.net/2018/09/25/giovinazzi-replace-ericsson-at-sauber-in-2019/|title=Giovinazzi will replace Ericsson at Sauber in 2019|last1=Collantine|first1=Keith|date=25 September 2018|website=racefans.net|access-date=16 February 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/46300009|title=Robert Kubica: Polish driver to make F1 comeback with Williams in 2019|date=22 November 2018|work=BBC.co.uk|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=16 February 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.daniil-kvyat-to-return-to-toro-rosso-for-2019-season.DYd0OWTI8SGewg84266WY.html|title=Daniil Kvyat to return to Toro Rosso for 2019 season|date=29 September 2018|website=Formula1.com|access-date=16 February 2019}}

Mission Winnow, the title sponsor of Ferrari, was banned from the race as it did not comply with local laws governing tobacco sponsorship.{{cite web|author=Stefano Ollanu|url=https://www.formulapassion.it/motorsport/formula-1/f1-team/ferrari-livrea-dei-90-anni-per-melbourne-mission-winnow-gp-australia-2019-425428.html|title=Ferrari, livrea dei 90 anni per GP Australia|date=12 March 2019|language=it|access-date=4 July 2020|website=formulapassion.it}}

{{Further|Formula One tyres#Tyre summary}}

Tyre supplier Pirelli provided teams with an intermediate range of tyres for the race.{{cite news|url=https://www.speedcafe.com/2019/03/06/f1-teams-tyre-picks-for-australian-grand-prix-revealed/|title=F1 teams' tyre picks for Australian Grand Prix revealed|first=Daniel|last=Herrero|work=speedcafe.com|publisher=Speedcafe|date=6 March 2019|access-date=6 March 2019}} Under rules introduced in 2019, Pirelli changed the designations of their tyres to rate the hardness of the compounds, with "C1" being the hardest and "C5" the softest.{{cite news|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/136287/pirelli-asked-to-simplify-tyre-names-for-2019|title=Pirelli asked to simplify tyre compound names for 2019 F1 season|first=Adam|last=Cooper|work=autosport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|date=24 May 2018|access-date=6 March 2019}} The colour-coding system used in previous years was simplified so that the white-coloured tyre wall represents the hardest compound available at any Grand Prix, a yellow tyre wall the medium compound and the red tyre wall the softest tyre.{{cite news|url=https://www.speedcafe.com/2018/08/29/pirelli-to-simplify-f1-tyre-compounds-from-2019/|title=Pirelli to simplify F1 tyre compounds from 2019|first=Mat|last=Coch|work=speedcafe.com|publisher=Speedcafe|date=29 August 2018|access-date=6 March 2019}} Pirelli nominated the C2 tyre as the white-banded hard compound, C3 as the yellow-banded medium and C4 as the red-banded soft.{{Cite news|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.what-tyres-have-the-teams-and-drivers-picked-for-australia.384PolLw4JQCI93Xhi5vMG.html|title=What Pirelli tyre compounds have the teams and drivers picked for Australia?|work=Formula1.com|date=6 March 2018|access-date=6 March 2019}}

{{Further|List of Formula One points scoring systems}}

The race saw the introduction of a change to the points system. The system in use since {{F1|2010}} was retained, but drivers who set the fastest lap could be awarded a bonus point, provided that they finish the race inside the top ten. The bonus point is also awarded to the constructor of the driver that set the fastest lap.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/47532633|title=F1 to award point to driver who sets fastest lap in a Grand Prix|date=11 March 2019|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=11 March 2019}}

Lewis Hamilton was fastest in all three practice sessions. The sessions ran uninterrupted apart from an incident that saw Alexander Albon spinning out at turn 2 and hitting the wall during the first practice session. Albon was able to return to the pits for repairs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.2019-australian-grand-prix-fp1-report-hamilton-leads-vettel-in-melbourne.5y4bYjvc86Tf7oYn6DoQli.html|title=Australian Grand Prix 2019 FP1 report: Hamilton, Vettel and Leclerc split by 0.07s in opening session in Australia|website=Formula1.com|access-date=15 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.australian-grand-prix-2019-fp2-report-hamilton-heads-bottas-as-mercedes-go-clear.6N1Ax32dXqxu3KWW9c88pJ.html|title=Australian Grand Prix 2019 FP2 report: FP2: Hamilton heads Bottas as Mercedes go clear of the field|website=Formula1.com|access-date=15 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.must-see-rookie-albon-the-first-to-hit-the-barriers-in-2019.IM5xnGNu2bM2FBCI3hjJL.html|title=MUST-SEE: Rookie Albon the first to hit the barriers in 2019|website=Formula1.com|access-date=15 March 2019}} In the third practice session, McLaren released Lando Norris into the path of Robert Kubica which resulted in the McLaren team receiving a fine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.mclaren-fined-for-unsafe-release-during-fp3.625RQMAyfkZU0gyu4msV9g.html|title=McLaren fined for unsafe release during FP3|website=Formula1.com|access-date=16 March 2019}}

The first qualifying session passed without incident until the final couple of minutes when Robert Kubica hit the wall coming out of turn 10, giving him a puncture. He later attributed this to a sudden increase in grip.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.sudden-improvement-in-grip-led-to-kubica%27s-brush-with-wall-in-qualifying.1qQKx9J07H1eIp1bTC0rT5.html|title=Sudden improvement in grip led to Kubica's brush with the wall in qualifying|website=Formula1.com|access-date=16 March 2019}} The drivers knocked out in Q1 and finishing qualifying in sixteenth to twentieth respectively were Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz, George Russell and Robert Kubica, with Charles Leclerc setting the fastest lap time of the session. Gasly being knocked out came as a particular surprise and put his early exit down to unexpected track evolution.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.red-bulls-gasly-blames-unexpected-track-evolution-for-q1-exit.1PtHiw1H4w5KiIzfXMcdcE.html|title=Red Bull and Gasly caught out by track evolution as they slump to Q1 exit|website=Formula1.com|access-date=16 March 2019}} Sainz was also disappointed with his early exit from qualifying, especially considering his teammate qualified in eighth. Sainz attributed his early exit to having to slow down after Kubica got a puncture in front of him, forcing him to slow down on his qualifying lap.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.sainz-rues-bad-luck-as-kubica-puncture-costs-him-dear.77CJtWHIKXixoRkIlj0YES.html|title=Sainz rues bad luck as Kubica puncture costs him dear|website=Formula1.com|access-date=16 March 2019}}

The second qualifying session passed without incident and resulted with Nico Hülkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Alexander Albon, Antonio Giovinazzi and Daniil Kvyat being knocked out and finishing qualifying ranked eleventh to fifteenth respectively, with Lewis Hamilton setting a qualifying lap record to end the session fastest.{{Citation|title=2019 Australian Grand Prix: Qualifying Highlights|date=16 March 2019|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMbxRkymoaY|access-date=16 March 2019}} The surprises came from the two Renaults of Ricciardo and Hülkenberg being knocked out after being considered as the fourth fastest team following pre-season testing, and from Lando Norris getting in to the top ten.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.renault-will-sneak-into-the-points-says-ricciardo-despite-q2-exit.4Jt9VDPmQKrcmPVJUDufSG.html|title=Australian Grand Prix qualifying 2019: 'Renault will sneak into the points' predicts Daniel Ricciardo despite Q2 exit|website=Formula1.com|access-date=16 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.norris-q3-definitely-not-what-mclaren-were-expecting.40BwmHJ88Vyvz5JRT3rowY.html|title=Australian Grand Prix qualifying 2019: Lando Norris: 'Q3 definitely not what McLaren were expecting'|website=Formula1.com|access-date=16 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.what-to-watch-for-at-the-2019-australian-grand-prix.cmDybsWxyHRD7pg37Gb0c.html|title=What to Watch For in the 2019 Australian Grand Prix: 5 key storylines for Sunday's race|website=Formula1.com|access-date=16 March 2019}}

For the third qualifying session, all of the teams were able to have two attempts to set the fastest time. After the first attempt it was Valtteri Bottas who was leading, having beaten the qualifying lap record which Hamilton had set in Q2. Bottas was followed by Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel. During the second attempt in Q3, Hamilton improved his time by half a second to beat Bottas's lap record. As no one else improved their time sufficiently to beat any of the top three, it was Lewis Hamilton who took pole position, followed by Valtteri Bottas and Sebastian Vettel completing the top three. The top ten was completed by Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Romain Grosjean, Kevin Magnussen, Lando Norris, Kimi Räikkönen and Sergio Pérez. In his post-qualifying interview Leclerc confessed that he wasn't happy with his performance, saying that he thought he was able to get into the top three but he was unable to do so due to an untidy lap.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.%27i-didn%27t-do-the-job-in-q3%27-says-unhappy-leclerc.4yd9VKHYINt2KfkVE1VJog.html|title=Australian Grand Prix 2019 qualifying – Charles Leclerc 'not happy' with performance after Melbourne qualifying|website=Formula1.com|access-date=16 March 2019}} Meanwhile, Haas said that they were delighted with their performance of getting their cars into the sixth and seventh positions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.haas-delighted-with-sixth-and-seventh-in-australia-qualifying.1u2U5ifa6Ps7eh0m204wPd.html|title=Haas delighted with sixth and seventh in Australia qualifying|website=Formula1.com|access-date=16 March 2019}}

Valtteri Bottas started the race well from second place, and had the lead going into turn one.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.jolyon-palmers-analysis-how-bottas-out-started-hamilton-in-australia.6PoWFNcdUHX0k2UpOncgcB.html|title=Jolyon Palmer's Analysis: How Bottas jumped Hamilton at the start of the 2019 Australian Grand Prix|website=Formula1.com|access-date=21 March 2019}} Further back, Daniel Ricciardo was contesting a position with Sergio Pérez, in which Ricciardo had to drive on the grass on the right side of the track to avoid Pérez. However, Ricciardo drove over a sunken bit of tarmac which caused his front wing to fall apart, spilling debris around that part of the track and causing him to drop to last, as he drove round with no front wing before pitting for a replacement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-inbox-your-questions-on-bottas-ricciardo-and-ferrari-answered-after-melbourne.2aFdZbwOffA9dlzpxpQBeu.html|title=F1 Inbox after the 2019 Australian Grand Prix: Your questions on Bottas, Ricciardo and Ferrari answered|website=Formula1.com|access-date=21 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.%27it-all-happened-so-quickly%27-ricciardo-on-race-wrecking-start-incident.7thZv7U19diYIPxKwgd11K.html|title=Daniel Ricciardo on his race-wrecking start incident in the 2019 Australian Grand Prix|website=Formula1.com|access-date=21 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.race-highlights-2019-australian-grand-prix.3X4GdTrKKYRw8ZzL2X7svv.html|title=Watch Race Highlights of the 2019 Australian Grand Prix|website=Formula1.com|access-date=21 March 2019}} Max Verstappen was passed by Charles Leclerc who then proceeded to battle his teammate Sebastian Vettel. Vettel kept Leclerc at bay in 5th and Leclerc was overtaken by Verstappen.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.must-see-watch-how-close-ferrari-came-to-disaster-in-australia-race-start.3lQ2L4JQK8ZB8aRuNsbEEx.html|title=Must-see: Watch how close Ferrari came to disaster in Australia race start|website=Formula1.com|access-date=21 March 2019}} Robert Kubica also came into the pits on lap 1 after losing his front wing at the start, following contact with Pierre Gasly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.kubica-rues-complicated-f1-return-after-sustaining-start-damage.P6XZVOjoXsJZnXllShT2H.html|title=Kubica rues 'complicated' F1 return after sustaining start damage|website=Formula1.com|access-date=21 March 2019}}

On lap 11, Carlos Sainz pulled over in his McLaren at the entrance to the pits, with a large plume of smoke emerging from the rear of his car, which was followed by an onboard fire.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.watch-smoking-sainz-becomes-first-driver-to-retire-in-2019.1WCAtDhkev9lzbGRuATOG5.html|title=WATCH: Smoking Sainz becomes first driver to retire in 2019|website=Formula1.com|access-date=21 March 2019}} Kimi Räikkönen pitted on lap 13 whilst Pierre Gasly struggled to make progress from P17. Gasly only moved up to P12 despite being in a significantly faster car than those in front of him.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2019/races/1000/australia/pit-stop-summary.html|title=2019 Australian Grand Prix – Pit stop summary|website=Formula1.com|access-date=21 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/2019/australie/tour-par-tour.aspx|title=Australia 2019 – Lap by lap|website=StatsF1|access-date=21 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.wolff-backs-red-bull-to-be-in-championship-battle-after-honda-gains.7GxkemDYAQzW8hKjiktppV.html|title=Wolff backs Red Bull to be in championship battle after Honda gains|website=Formula1.com|access-date=21 March 2019}} Nico Hülkenberg and Pérez then pulled into the pits in search of an undercut, followed by Vettel who put on the medium tyres.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/2019/australie.aspx|title=Australia 2019|website=StatsF1|access-date=21 March 2019}} Lewis Hamilton pitted a lap later onto the same tyre compound, and he emerged ahead of Vettel. Romain Grosjean then pitted but an issue on the front left tyre caused him to lose three positions during his pit stop.{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.steiner-curses-%27deja-vu%27-for-haas-after-grosjeans-loose-wheel-dnf.5z4lUZyGO2cmx9Vp794oC1.html|title=Australian Grand Prix 2019: Guenther Steiner curses 'deja vu' for Haas after Romain Grosjean's loose wheel retirement|website=Formula1.com|access-date=21 March 2019}} Antonio Giovinazzi went wide on the approach to turn 13, allowing Grosjean to pass through. Bottas, the race leader, made his pit stop on lap 23, with Verstappen following suit three laps later. Leclerc pitted from second place on lap 29. Daniel Ricciardo retired as a precaution following the lap 1 incident. Verstappen passed Vettel on lap 31. Grosjean pulled over on to the runoff area on the penultimate corner, after his front left wheel came loose. Daniil Kvyat went wide trying to pass Lance Stroll at turn 3 on lap 38. Bottas retook the fastest lap and won the Grand Prix by over 20 seconds to his teammate Hamilton.{{cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2019/races/1000/australia/fastest-laps.html|title=Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2019 – Fastest Lap|publisher=Formula1.com|date=1 April 2019|access-date=1 April 2019}} They were followed by Verstappen in third and the two Ferrari cars trailing in fourth and fifth. Bottas became the first driver to win a bonus point for the fastest lap of the race since Maurice Trintignant at the 1959 United States Grand Prix.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/mar/17/valtteri-bottas-leads-from-first-turn-to-win-australian-grand-prix |title =Valtteri Bottas dominates Australian Grand Prix to win Formula One opener|date=17 March 2019|work=Guardian|access-date=20 March 2019}}

;Notes:

• {{note|1|1}} – Includes 1 point for fastest lap

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

;Drivers' Championship standings

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;Constructors' Championship standings

{{col-end}}

• Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

• 2019 Melbourne 400

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.grandprix.com.au/index.php}}

{{F1 race report

| Name_of_race = Australian Grand Prix

| Year_of_race = 2019

| Previous_race_in_season = 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

| Next_race_in_season = 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix

| Previous_year's_race = 2018 Australian Grand Prix

| Next_year's_race = 2022 Australian Grand Prix

}}

{{F1GP 10-19}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Australian Grand Prix, 2019}}

Australia

2019

Grand Prix

Category:2010s in Melbourne

Category:2019 in Victoria (state)

Category:Motorsport in Melbourne

Category:March 2019 sports events in Australia