F1

Formula One heads Down Under for the third race of the 2022 season with Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc going head to head at the Australian Grand Prix.

Second practice follows at 7am. When is the F1 Australian Grand Prix? Hamilton was down in 13th and it looks like being another difficult weekend for Mercedes. There was a Ferrari one-two in first practice, with Sainz half a second clear of Leclerc.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc beat Max Verstappen to the top spot for Formula 1's 2022 Australian Grand Prix, with the latter opting to complete extra ...

Mercedes Mercedes Mercedes Mercedes Ferrari Red Bull Ferrari Red Bull Ferrari Red Bull Ferrari Red Bull

Formula 1 is racing in Melbourne for the first time since 2019 and it was Ferrari who made the fastest start to the weekend, with Carlos Sainz topping the ...

10.15am: Australian GP Qualifying Hits 7am: AUSTRALIAN GP QUALIFYING* Live Australian GP schedule on Sky Sports F1

Mercedes driver George Russell believes having the Australian Grand Prix as a standalone event is 'too tough' on Formula 1 teams amid a 23-race season.

"There's no reason why we couldn't have done a back-to-back with one of the Middle Eastern races. The season started with a Middle East double-header in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. I think it needs to be thought about more.

Lewis Hamilton says nothing that Mercedes does to try to improve its Formula 1 car is working in helping it deliver progress it needs to make.

So we need to try and get on top of things and understand why." "We need to keep digging into the data and understand it. "It's just nothing we change on the car makes a difference at the moment," explained Hamilton after Friday running.

George Russell described the porpoising during Friday practice for Formula 1's Australian Grand Prix as “the most severe I've experienced”.

“We’re a long way behind Ferrari and Red Bull,” said Russell ahead of Friday practice. I know a few drivers did that but it seemed a little bit more extravagant from our side of things.” “We’ve sort of gone from left, right and centre with the setup and all have resulted in a similar outcome. So we need to work hard tonight, understand the limitations. We need to keep digging into the data and understand, It was a bit strange on my soft tyre, I kept on improving and improving.

SYDNEY, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The return of the Australian Grand Prix (GP) is one of the first major sporting drawcards to win back interstate and ...

"Melbourne is back as the major events and sporting capital and the Grand Prix will showcase everything that our city has to offer," Pakula said. "Events like the F1 returning to Australia's cultural, events and sporting capital is fantastic news for small businesses who have really borne the brunt of the pandemic," said NAB small business executive general manager Ana Marinkovic. ■ SYDNEY, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The return of the Australian Grand Prix (GP) is one of the first major sporting drawcards to win back interstate and international tourists to the Victorian capital of Melbourne since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Follow for the latest news and updates ahead of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix as practice gets underway in Melbourne.

“It is just nothing you change on the car makes a difference at the moment so that is the difficult thing. “Turn 11, it is much different, much more square and a bit more bumpy on the apex. Additionally, there was a problem with his radio volume, which was also noted by the Stewards in their review, that prevented him from hearing calls from his team about ZHO’s approach. “It could be like a MotoGP race where you could be changing two or three times a lap. “So more to come from that tyre but otherwise, I felt like I was getting on the limit. So, the distances of these DRS zones are going to be quite interesting to see. “I think we found a good set in the afternoon. “Obviously there is financial interest in new places that we are going to and F1 is a business. “It stopped our running, which was painful and unfortunately cost us the whole session in the afternoon, which is not ideal. It has left Mercedes and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton with significant work to do, as the team struggle to overcome the difficulties they’ve been having with the aerodynamics of their W13 car. I haven’t been in the car for a while, plus the track is different. The 19-turn 3.385km Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR became the second longest track in Formula E history after a series of changes for Season 7, with only Beijing longer.

Charles Leclerc capped off another encouraging day for Ferrari by setting the pace ahead of Max Verstappen in Australian GP second practice, with Mercedes ...

11) George Russell 6) Esteban Ocon 2) Max Verstappen 1) Charles Leclerc It's just a tricky car." Sebastian Vettel also endured a frustrating day on his F1 return after a Covid enforced absence.

Lewis Hamilton expressed his frustration as Mercedes' early-season woes continued in the first two practice sessions for this weekend's Australian Grand ...

If you look on board with the Ferraris, you can see the porpoising and it looks worse than the Mercedes - but they are still very quick. We need to try to get on top of things and understand why." "They're quick again, but on the long run everything was quite stable and nice so I'm happy about that, so we definitely made some good improvements today. It's probably the most severe I've experienced, but it's just something we have to deal with for the time being. "You get in very optimistic, and you make changes, and then it doesn't seem to be wanting to improve. "It was a difficult session," Hamilton said.

Sebastian Vettel insists that he was given permission by a marshal to ride a scooter via the track back to the Albert Park pits after Friday's Formula 1 FP1 ...

“I said, ‘Can I drive it?’ Because I prefer to drive myself. I'm not here to drive a scooter.” “Obviously, we had a problem, and there was a bit of smoke, and I lost power,” he said. Plus the track is different. So it was a bit of a job. Vettel rode it back to the pits waving to the crowd – at some points with both hands – and his crash helmet was perched on top of his head.

Mercedes driver George Russell believes having the Australian Grand Prix as a standalone event is 'too tough' on Formula 1 teams amid a 23-race season.

"There's no reason why we couldn't have done a back-to-back with one of the Middle Eastern races. The season started with a Middle East double-header in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. I think it needs to be thought about more.

Ferrari fired a major warning to its rivals at the Australian Grand Prix on Friday, while Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren showed small signs of improvement.

“Because we’re so far behind and because of the cost cap we can’t afford to just throw things at it and trial and error at race weekend. “We need to obviously close that gap but there‘s nothing substantial this weekend that will do that,” he said. I don’t have a second in my pocket but of course you’ll find a bit as the week goes on.” “I suspect the team working the hardest tonight will be Red Bull,” he said. A week after we went to Saudi and we showed more competitiveness — that was really just a track dependent thing. “You said crazy, It‘s definitely a good crazy. That certainly stood out and it’s awesome. He will meet with the stewards after FP2. Hopefully this circuit, I think it does lean more to a Saudi layout than a Bahrain one and I think that will help us a bit with where we currently are.” “Until then, we need to maximise each opportunity and make the most of the package we have.” There’s a lot of support and love and it’s not just for me, it’s for F1 and I think everyone is just stoked to have the race back here.” He added: “It’s so versatile.

McLaren driver Ricciardo and his F1 rivals are preparing for a new Albert Park layout at the Australian Grand Prix — they won't drive on the redesigned, ...

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Ferrari's Charles Leclerc beat Max Verstappen to the top spot for Formula 1's 2022 Australian Grand Prix – with the latter opting to complete extra ...

As he shot through Turn 12 during a lap on the mediums, Hamilton had to catch two oversteer snaps – the second of which sent him skating across the gravel trap at the corner’s exit. On his third softs flier, Verstappen posted a purple sector in the middle third of the lap, but had to back off late on after sliding off the exit kerbs for the Turn 12 right and then having bounced back onto the track locking up and sliding deep at the final corner. Sainz continued the exchange of best times with Leclerc as he then posted a 1m19.376s, but the championship leader then surged ahead definitively with a third flying lap on another set of softs with 25 minutes to go. Alonso broke the Ferrari dominance at the front with a 1m19.537s just before the halfway point, but just a few moments later Leclerc – who had been through the pits before continuing on the softs – demoted him with a new best of 1m19.487s. Leclerc got back ahead on his first run on the red-walled rubber – a 1m19.771s – albeit with no purple sectors and losing a chunk of time with a slide at the penultimate corner. As the opening five minutes drew to a close, Leclerc shot ahead on a 1m20.898s on the mediums, which he beat a few minutes later with a 1m20.523s.

The former world champion came in 13th in his Mercedes, following his disappointing finish in Saudi Arabia.

“We have to find a balance,” he said. With the number of meetings limited to 24 there is concern that a congested calendar could come at the expense of historic races in Europe. “We have gone left, right and centre with the setup but that has resulted in a similar outcome, so we need to get on top of things,” said Russell. Hamilton was 10th at the last round in Saudi Arabia and admitted that the drivers could make little difference to the performance. Hamilton, the sport’s biggest star for some time, may not be in the fight but the enthusiasm for the competition is undimmed in his absence. “Nothing we change on the car makes a difference at the moment and that is the difficult thing,” he said.

'Nothing works': Mercedes' grim championship reality laid bare.

“We need to keep digging into the data. “There’s just not a lot we can do. It’s just difficult.” “That’s the difficult thing. “It’s just nothing you change on the car makes a difference at the moment,” he said. “There’s quite a few midfield cars ahead of us and obviously we’re quite a long pace away from the front, so we need to work hard tonight to understand the limitations.”

MELBOURNE : Formula One world champions Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen welcomed on Friday the possible arrival of Porsche and Audi once engine rules ...

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Aston Martin says it is “actively” considering its long-term engine options in Formula 1, amid suggestions of a potential tie-up with Audi.

At this point, the new regulations for 2026 and subsequent years are not yet available. Mercedes-Benz’s F1 power unit is a good one. It is understood that it was in advanced talks with McLaren about a potential takeover, but sources suggest that those discussions have stalled with the two parties not in agreement over the deal progressing in a way that suits both parties.

Formula 1 drivers have praised changes at Albert Park making the track faster and more fun, but they remain sceptical about them helping produce more ...

But I think it will be to some degree better. "I think we'll get a fun one on Sunday, but I'm cautious to oversell it because I honestly don't know what the facts will be. I think it will be better. It is easy to make mistakes and I think with this car generally compared to last year's, it is a bit easier to make mistakes. To be fair, I don't think there were many overtakes in the past here. I think the track grip is quite nice, the bumps definitely improved.

Melbourne plays host to the third round of the 2022 Formula 1 season. Here's how you can watch qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix.

Viewers from selected countries can subscribe to F1 TV to stream qualifying on a device of their choice. - Denmark - TV3 / TV3 Sport / Viaplay Can’t find your country or region in the list?

Sebastian Vettel is yet to decide on a name for his Aston Martin Formula 1 car as he wants to “wait for a bit more pace” before christening it.

“I had races where I was feeling a bit ill and raced, but it was not possible,” Vettel said. “Nico I think did really well, obviously with zero preparation to jump in and do that kind of job. It is one of only two teams yet to record a top-10 finish so far this year.

Charles Leclerc topped Friday practice for Ferrari at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. Here's how and when to watch qualifying.

For the entire 2022 F1 season, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of every qualifying and race of each event. Sky Sports can also be accessed through NOW with a one-off day payment of £11.98 or a month membership of £33.99 per month. Live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying and race for the 2022 F1 season will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC 5 Live Sports Extra or via the BBC Sport website. Coverage of Australian GP qualifying will start at 6:55am BST on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds app. Live streaming through NOW is also available in the UK. In the United Kingdom, every F1 practice, qualifying and race is broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with Australian GP qualifying coverage starting at 6am BST.

Lewis Hamilton's seven title-winning Formula 1 cars are set to be displayed together for the first time at this year's Silverstone Classic.

In addition to the Historic Grand Prix Cars Association and Masters Historic Formula One contests, tin-tops and GTs will be represented in the Masters Endurance Legends, Royal Automobile Club Historic Tourist Trophy and Adrian Flux Trophy for Transatlantic Pre '66 Touring Cars grids. The anniversaries of the launch of the MGB, Austin 7, Ford Cortina and AC Cobra are all also set to be commemorated at the event. The McLaren MP4-23 that powered Hamilton to his first title in 2008 will be in attendance, alongside the six Mercedes cars that have carried him to championship crowns between 2014 and 2020.

Russell finished 11th in FP2, with Hamilton down in 13th as Leclerc set the pace for Ferrari at Albert Park.

“They’re quick again, but on the long run everything was quite stable and nice so I’m happy about that, so we definitely made some good improvements today. It is easy to get things wrong.” We need to try to get on top of things and understand why.” It’s probably the most severe I’ve experienced, but it’s just something we have to deal with for the time being. - Kevin Magnussen (Haas) +2.213 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +1.543 - George Russell (Mercedes) +1.234 - Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) +1.225 - Lando Norris (McLaren) +1.164 - Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.398 - Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1:18.978 “It was a difficult session.

Lewis Hamilton is nonplussed after the reiteration of Formula One's ban on jewellery - amid his continued struggles continued in practice for the Australian ...

There is just not a lot we can do. Hamilton, who has nose and ear piercings, shrugged off the clampdown. “It is frustrating because you are trying to push and trying to catch and even when you do a decent lap, I am 1.2 seconds down.”

Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc has refuted suggestions that his winning form in 2022 reflects a transition to a “2.0” version of himself.

"To have more pressure means you're doing something right, and that you are in the right place. "I don't really know where I'm gaining [on Sainz], I guess it's a little bit everywhere. "And this [cost me] massively at the end of the year. And it's great to be back here. "Yeah, I've had a growth from year-to-year that is linear. "This is not the case.

Formula 1 drivers have praised changes at Albert Park making the track faster and more fun, but they remain sceptical about them helping produce more ...

But I think it will be to some degree better. "I think we'll get a fun one on Sunday, but I'm cautious to oversell it because I honestly don't know what the facts will be. I think it will be better. It is easy to make mistakes and I think with this car generally compared to last year's, it is a bit easier to make mistakes. To be fair, I don't think there were many overtakes in the past here. I think the track grip is quite nice, the bumps definitely improved.

MELBOURNE: Formula One drivers on Friday (Apr 8) welcomed the prospect of racing in the bright lights of Las Vegas next season but said the championship ...

So that will be very important." "Obviously there is financial interest in new places that we are going to and F1 is a business. Advertisement

Minute-by-minute updates on Saturday practice for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.

All changes have been made in the hope of increasing overtaking opportunities and creating more exciting races. Final practice for the Australian GP gets underway at 4am BST (1pm local time), followed by qualifying at 7am BST (4pm local time). Over two years on from the cancelled Australian GP due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, F1 returns to a revamped Albert Park.

The FIA has removed one of the four DRS zones from the Albert Park layout for Formula 1's 2022 Australian Grand Prix, with the move made on safety grounds.

“DRS detection 1 will be moved to before Turn 9, DRS activation 1 will be after Turn 10, DRS detection 2 will remain unchanged, with the following activation zones will be renumbered accordingly.” The remaining two DRS zones and their activation points remain unchanged – with the drivers able to activate the system as they head down the main straight and on the track’s second straight that leads to the tight right of Turn 3. The DRS zone that follows the fast Turns 9 and 10 complex remains unchanged, with the activation point for that run moved to just before Turn 9.

Formula 1 could hold a second race in Singapore should plans for Qatar to replace the cancelled Russian Grand Prix in September fall through, Autosport has ...

The 2021 race started at 5pm local time, 15 minutes after sunset. Another option could be to return to Bahrain to user the outer loop layout of the Bahrain International Circuit, which staged the Sakhir Grand Prix at the end of 2020. A similar approach was taken for the pair of races in Bahrain at the end of 2020, when the Sakhir Grand Prix started a few hours later than the Bahrain Grand Prix one week earlier.

With the Scuderia on top again on Friday, Lando Norris was top for McLaren in FP3 after a truncated session saw both the returning Sebastian Vettel and Lance ...

A bad start to the season just gets worse for the Silverstone-based team. Now a heavy crash in FP3 that leaves the engineers with a frantic race to get his car ready for qualifying. but will they be ready for qualifying? The session was red-flagged twice after a nightmare for Aston Martin, who had already seen Sebastian Vettel - back behind the wheel this weekend after missing both of the opening races of the season due to Covid-19 - career across the gravel and smash into the wall after a high-speed off at turn 10. Not only did he miss the first two races of the season due to Covid, with reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg stepping up for Aston Martin, but he also had engine trouble after only 18 laps in FP1 and was then fined €5,000 for taking a scooter onto the Albert Park circuit. With the Scuderia on top again on Friday, Lando Norris was top for McLaren in FP3 after a truncated session saw both the returning Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll crash for Aston Martin.

Charles Leclerc leads the drivers' standings after two races, with victory at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix followed by a second-place finish behind ...

He was just immune to any feedback and even today he has not properly reflected that he did something wrong. “With 15 minutes to go I was in the garage thinking ‘we’re not going to win this’,” he remembers. “You’re almost in neutral, you’re thinking this is an early night, that’s the way it goes. It was the best weekend McLaren have had so far this season with Ricciardo picking up his first points of the campaign and Norris grabbing his highest finish. Toto Wolff’s team have been behind the pace all season and haven’t won a race yet. The former Red Bull driver managed to rise 10 places to give his team a point, moving them off the bottom of the constructors table. It’s going to take a number of races.” “I will be chasing the people in the wind tunnel, the aerodynamic guys, and just looking at every single area,” he said. Lewis does it every day, but you are guy who always seems to know better’. This means there will only be one hour of practice on the Friday followed by qualifying. Their situation is still not quite as bleak as the one at Mercedes, though, who appear hardly any closer to finding a solution to their lack of pace. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen was left bitterly disappointed after being forced to retire during the Australian Grand Prix when his car suffered further issues with its fueling system.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took pole position for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, the third round of the 2022 F1 World Championship.

On the first runs, Verstappen lapped in 1m18.399s before Perez circulated 0.001s faster. Time Time Time Time Cla

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took the first Australian Grand Prix pole position since 2019 with a blistering performance at Albert Park – with Max Verstappen ...

Mercedes opted for two flying efforts, Russell going half a tenth ahead of Hamilton on his first one – with the seven-time champion having made a mistake in Sector 3. That left Alonso 10th – a purple second sector hinting agonisingly at what could have been for the two-time champion. However, there was plenty of time – more than six minutes – for the order to change. Perez, awaiting news of a possible penalty, was 0.372s off pole in a provisional P3. It feels great, and very happy to be on pole tomorrow," said pole-sitter Charles Leclerc. The order however will change as Albon carries a three-place grid penalty for his collision with Stroll in Saudi Arabia. That left the Ferraris third and fourth, Charles Leclerc three-tenths off the pace and Carlos Sainz another tenth away – with Fernando Alonso fifth for Alpine. Alonso’s brilliant run came to a painful end when his Alpine swapped ends at Turn 11, bringing out a red flag with seven minutes remaining. Before Alonso’s unfortunate crash, Leclerc had set the fastest time of 1m 18. They took a provisional 19th and 20th while stewards deliberate. Vettel, having crashed out of FP3, emerged after the red flag thanks to a herculean response from his crew, and managed to jump to P18 with Latifi 19th and Stroll last – piling more pressure on Aston Martin after his FP3 crash – on the provisional grid. Verstappen topped Q1 and Red Bull team mate Perez led Q2 – the Mexican driver under investigation for not slowing for a caution in Q1 – but Ferrari regrouped and it was Leclerc who aced the top 10 shootout with a time of 1m 17.868s to keep Verstappen 0.286s at bay in P2.

Charles Leclerc claimed pole position for the Australian Grand Prix with an exceptional lap for Ferrari in Melbourne to beat Red Bull's Max Verstappen into ...

Various corners have been reprofiled while the chicane at what was turns nine and 10 has been removed, allowing a long run along the lake to the challenging fast chicane at the back of the circuit. It ends a remarkable streak for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes at Albert Park. Hamilton has taken a record eight poles here including the last six in a row. Stroll however set no time and was in 19th with Sebastian Vettel in 18th. On his first hot runs in Q3 Leclerc, who has looked in fine form all weekend, set the pace with a 1minute 18.239sec time but it was only one-tenth up on Pérez, who had been very competitive throughout qualifying. Overtaking has traditionally been very tricky at Albert Park but there is optimism that changes to the circuit this year should make for a more competitive race. Yet Leclerc had even more, his final lap was immense, clocking 1m 17.868sec to leave his rivals reeling, a full three-10ths up on Verstappen.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took pole position for Formula 1's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, beating Red Bull pair Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez after ...

Driver On the first runs, Verstappen lapped in 1m18.399s before Perez circulated 0.001s faster. Driver Driver Driver Cla

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc had 'zero idea where the limit of the track was' due to the setting sun late in the disrupted Melbourne Formula 1 qualifying, ...

Didn't get it right [with] the visor." "So, it's just a compromise that we have to find. "So then we went for a darker visor.

'This shouldn't happen': Ferrari star attacks team over 'disaster' as 'hard to accept' reality looms.

It is easy to lose momentum there and that had consequences for Carlos.” “Carlos will see his teammate on top and that’s hard to take as a driver. “Until I go to sleep I will be angry,” Sainz said after qualifying.

SINGAPORE — Singapore might see a second Formula One race in 2022 if talks between F1 and Qatar fall through, major motor racing news portal Motorsport.com ...

The race organiser said it had observed several attempts to resell tickets in a Facebook post on April 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Singapore in the running to host another F1 race in 2022 to replace cancelled Russian Grand Prix: Report

Charles Leclerc made it two poles from the first three race weekends of the year, but while there was jubilation for the Ferrari man, there was despair ...

Esteban Ocon was eighth, the first time he’s ever made Q3 in Melbourne. Aston Martin had to repair their cars more times than they can remember, which contributed to ending one of Sebastian Vettel’s proud records, while Lewis Hamilton couldn’t buck the odds and grab a seventh straight pole at Albert Park. Here are some of the best facts and stats from F1’s return to Melbourne… Lewis Hamilton’s fifth is the first time he’s been outside the top three in Australia since 2010, when he was 11th for McLaren.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will start from pole position for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. Here's how and when you can watch the race.

For the entire 2022 F1 season, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of every qualifying and race of each event. Current weather forecasts predict hot, dry and sunny conditions at Albert Park, with a very low chance of rain during the race. Sky Sports can also be accessed through NOW with a one-off day payment of £11.98 or a month membership of £33.99 per month. Live streaming through NOW is also available in the UK. Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez claimed third place, while the other Ferrari of Carlos Sainz Jr endured a tough Q3 session and will start down in ninth. It capped a terrible day for Aston Martin as both Stroll and Sebastian Vettel crashed heavily in final practice.

Melbourne plays host to the third race of the 2022 Formula One season on Sunday morning.

How to watch the F1 Australian Grand Prix F1 have dropped four DRS zones around the circuit to ensure that overtaking levels can match the entertaining start to the new campaign, with Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc fighting for wins - and Lewis Hamilton off the pace. How to watch the F1 Australian Grand Prix: TV channel and live stream for third race of 2022 season

Charles Leclerc beat Max Verstappen to pole position in qualifying for Formula 1's 2022 Australian Grand Prix, which was heavily disrupted by red flags ...

As he returned to the pits at the end of Q1, Albon, who will drop three places on the Melbourne grid as a result of his crash with Stroll in the Jeddah race, was ordered to pull over and stop his car ahead of the penultimate corner when Williams detected a problem. On that, only Gasly and Vettel were able to set personal bests, which meant Alex Albon and Kevin Magnussen – one of the most active on the final warm-up lap as he passed the Williams and Ricciardo to head the pack – missing the cut in 16th and 17th behind Schumacher, who out-qualified Magnussen for the first occasion in their time as Haas teammates. As Latifi was passing by, Stroll turned right – possibly to get out of Zhou's way as is the requirement for drivers not on a flying lap – and the pair made contact, breaking the Aston's right-front suspension and sending Latifi spearing into the wall and smashing all the corners on his Williams. Sainz was unfortunate to not complete his first Q3 flying lap just as the red flags were brought out for Alonso's crash and he could not match his teammate's pace in the final minutes. But Leclerc responded with purple sectors in the first and final thirds – Alonso retaining the best time in the middle sector – to post a 1m17.868s and secure his second pole of 2022 by 0.286s. Alonso had just set a then best time in the middle sector when he lost the rear of his Alpine going through Turn 11, the Spaniard saying after he crashed having been sent into the gravel and then into the wall on the outside, that he had "lost the hydraulics" and "could not change gear".

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said on Saturday that a potential engine partnership with Audi or Porsche was “eye-wateringly exciting”.

“Firstly it‘s great news for F1 that brands such as Porsche and Audi are looking at entering. It followed Porsche chief Oliver Blume saying last month that a study of entering F1 was under way, with media reports suggesting “negotiations” with Red Bull, the team of current world champion Max Verstappen. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said on Saturday that a potential engine partnership with Audi or Porsche was “eye-wateringly exciting”.

Australian GP polesitter Charles Leclerc has been summoned by the FIA Formula 1 stewards for driving unnecessarily slowly on an in-lap during qualifying.

You will be informed of the maximum time after the first day of practice.” The notes say: “In order to ensure that cars are not driven unnecessarily slowly on in laps during and after the end of qualifying or during reconnaissance laps when the pit exit is opened for the race, drivers must stay below the maximum time set by the FIA between the Safety Car lines shown on the pit lane map. The article concerned notes that “at no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person”.

Charles Leclerc's Australian Grand Prix pole position could be at risk after he was summoned to see the stewards on Saturday evening.

"As a result, the minimum time was breached. "The required minimum lap time was breached without good or apparent reason. "Part way through the lap, the decision was made to come in.