2019 Australian Grand Prix

The 2019 Australian Grand Prix, otherwise officially known as the LXXXIV Rolex Australian Grand Prix, was the opening round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, on the 17 March 2019. The race was the 84th "Australian Grand Prix" to be staged, and the 998th Grand Prix held according to the F1 rulebook.'1. Australia 2019', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2019), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2019/australie.aspx, (Accessed 24/02/2019)
Lewis Hamilton started the season as the defending World Champion, while his team were the defending Constructors Champions. However, the build-up to the race was marred by the sudden death of Race Director Charlie Whiting on the eve of practice.Andrew Benson, 'Charlie Whiting: F1 race director dies aged 66 on eve of season-opener in Melbourne', bbc.co.uk/sport, (British Broadcasting Company: Sport, 14/03/2019), https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/47564762, (Accessed 15/03/2019)
Hamilton took pole position, equalling Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher's number of eight Australian Grand Prix pole positions.
At the start, Valtteri Bottas managed to jump ahead of Hamilton. Despite pitting early to cover off Sebastian Vettel, Hamilton was unable to match Bottas' pace. Bottas won by around 20 seconds, ahead of Hamilton, for a one-two. Max Verstappen, who had started behind Vettel, managed to overtake the German for the final podium position.
The official race weekend attendance was 324,000 people.
==Background==
The 70th edition of the FIA Formula One World Championship would kick-off at what had become the traditional starting venue for the season, the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia. The ever popular circuit around Albert Park Lake remained unchanged ahead of the visit in , with sponsorship from Rolex funding the race. With no major circuit changes the interest instead laid in the entry list and changes to the teams over the winter, with a vast array of changes both to the rules and the driver line-up.
===Aero Adjustments===
The biggest feature of the 2019 F1 regulations would be the front wings, with increased restrictions on how many winglets.'F1 RULES & REGULATIONS: What’s new for 2019?', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 09/01/2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-rules-and-regulations-what's-new-for-2019.2DIt7TEs9YqI8IY6mEcwsM.html, (Accessed 22/02/2019) The new design limited the number of elements on the wing to a maximum of seven, while also limiting the teams to two deflectors to push air over the car. It was hoped that the new design would allow cars to follow one-another better, at the expense of slower lap times.'Ferrari: Cars will be ‘1.5s slower’ in 2019', planetf1.com, (PlanetF1, 17/02/2019), https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-cars-will-be-around-1-5s-slower-in-2019/, (Accessed 22/02/2019)
Elsewhere there were also modifications to the rear wing, which was to be increased in size by 100mm, with the DRS slot also expanded by 20mm. These changes would effectively ensure that a car would punch a bigger hole through the air, increasing the effects of slipstreaming, while the 25% increase in DRS would also enhance the influence of the overtaking aid. There were also reductions to the size of barge boards and brake ducts, reducing their aerodynamic effectiveness, as well as a marginal increase in minimum weight to 740 kg including the driver.
===The Mercedes March===
 Driver tyre allocations
Driver 	Hard 	Med 	Soft 	Driver 	Hard 	Med 	Soft
Hamilton 	1 	3 	9 	Bottas 	1 	3 	9
Vettel 	1 	3 	9 	Leclerc 	2 	2 	9
Verstappen	1 	3 	9 	Gasly 	1 	3 	9
Ricciardo 	1 	2 	10 	Hülkenberg	1 	2 	10
Magnussen 	1 	3 	9 	Grosjean 	1 	3 	9
Sainz 	2 	2 	9 	Norris 	2 	2 	9
Pérez 	2 	3 	8 	Stroll 	2 	3 	8
Räikkönen 	1 	3 	9 	Giovinazzi	2 	2 	9
Kvyat 	1 	3 	9 	Albon 	1 	3 	9
Russell 	1 	4 	8 	Kubica 	2 	3 	8
Source 	Source	Source	Source	Source 	Source	Source	Source
Into the entry list and there were some sweeping changes across the field, with no fewer than twelve changes to driver line-ups over the winter. Indeed, defending World Champions were one of only two teams not to change either of their drivers, with Valtteri Bottas partnering defending Drivers Champion Lewis Hamilton for a third consecutive season. Their new car, the W10 EQ Power+ performed reasonably in winter testing at Barcelona, with the German squad focusing on long-distance running rather than outright pace, although Hamilton would set the second fastest time of the test on the final day.Haydn Cobb, 'Barcelona F1 Test 2 Times - Combined', crash.net, (Crash Media Group, 01/03/2019), https://www.crash.net/f1/results/914722/1/barcelona-f1-test-2-times-combined, (Accessed 01/03/2019)
In contrast, Mercedes premium customers arrived with a whole new line-up for 2019, partnering Mercedes Junior Driver, and reigning FIA Formula 2 Championship Champion George Russell alongside veteran Polish ace Robert Kubica.Andrew Benson, 'Formula 1: George Russell joins Williams to become third British driver in 2019', bbc.co.uk/sport, (British Broadcasting Company, 12/10/2018), https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/45831954, (Accessed 12/10/2018) Yet, in spite of employing two drivers on talent as much as budget, it proved to be a turbulent winter for the former Champions, with the FW42 missing more than half of the first test. Furthermore, when Russell and Kubica did finally get out on track the FW42 seemed to be well of the pace of the midfield, with the Brit and the Pole ending the test slowest of all.
The third and final Mercedes powered team were , who arrived in their first full season in F1 having taken over the entry midway through 2018.'Racing Point reveal their 2019 identity', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 13/02/2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.racing-point-reveal-their-2019-identity.6qr236jVQ3VJ3p2OzMkB4q.html, (Accessed 13/02/2019) Rather predictably, team boss Lawrence Stroll employed his son Lance to drive for the team, partnering the Canadian with veteran Mexican racer Sergio Pérez for the campaign, leaving Mercedes junior Esteban Ocon without a seat.'Formula 1 in 2019: Lance Stroll joins Force India', skysports.com, (Sky UK, 30/11/2018), https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11560885/formula-1-in-2019-lance-stroll-joins-force-india, (Accessed 01/12/2018) In terms of pace the new Racing Point RP19 was not among the fastest in the field during testing, although the team were plotting a major update ahead of the season opening race.
===Ferrari Factions===
Other than the factory Mercedes squad, only would enter the 2019 season with an unchanged driver line-up, retaining their long-standing pairing of Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean.'Haas F1: Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen retained for 2019 season', bbc.co.uk/sport. (British Broadcasting Company, 28/09/2018), https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/45676007, (Accessed 28/09/2018) They would also retain their close links to , with the Haas VF-19 using a Ferrari sourced engine, gearbox and rear-end as the team had done since their debut in . Indeed, the only change for the 2019 season would be a change in sponsors, with drinks company Rich Energy taking over as title sponsor for the full campaign.Andrew Benson, 'Haas unveil new 2019 VF-19 car for 2019 F1 season', bbc.co.uk/sport, (British Broadcasting Company, 07/02/2019), https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/47162100, (Accessed 11/02/2019)
Elsewhere, the factory Ferrari team would start the season as the favourites, with their duo of Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc having been consistently fastest throughout pre-season testing. Vettel had been retained by the Scuderia, who would be officially entered as Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow courtesy of a title sponsorship deal with the Philip Morris Group, to lead the team, alongside Ferrari Driver Academy graduate Leclerc.'Leclerc to replace Raikkonen at Ferrari for 2019', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 11/09/2018), https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.charles-leclerc-to-ferrari-in-2019.5HMCUovwZO8oCgogY4I0QK.html, (Accessed 11/09/2018) Leclerc had earned his promotion from at the end of the 2018 campaign, and duly matched Vettel's pace throughout the Barcelona tests with the new Ferrari SF90.Scott Mitchell, 'Ferrari launches its 2019 Formula 1 car', motorsport.com, (Motorsport Network, 15/02/2019), https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-launch-2019-car-sf90/4338070/, (Accessed 15/02/2019)
Leclerc's former employers Sauber, meanwhile, would not officially appear on the entry list for the 2019 season, for technical partners took over the naming rights for both the team and chassis.Scott Mitchell, 'Sauber F1 team renamed Alfa Romeo Racing', motorsport.com, (Motorsport Network, 01/02/2019), https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/sauber-becomes-alfa-romeo-racing/4331468/, (Accessed 01/02/2019) Yet, Sauber would still run the team, signing ex-Ferrari ace Kimi Räikkönen to lead the team, alongside the Ferrari backed Italian Antonio Giovinazzi.'F1 2019: Antonio Giovinazzi to partner Kimi Raikkonen at Sauber', skysports.com, (Sky UK, 25/09/2018), https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11508265/f1-2019-antonio-giovinazzi-to-partner-kimi-raikkonen-at-sauber, (Accessed 25/09/2018) The new car, the Alfa Romeo C38, would run reliably at the pre-season tests, with the team, using a large number of Ferrari parts akin to Haas, ending the test in the mid-field.
===Renault Reliance===
The factory squad would start the 2019 season as arguably the fourth fastest team in the field after the Barcelona tests, having largely focused on race pace until the final day. Indeed, the French squad would start the season with a re-vamped driver line-up, having poached the highly rated Daniel Ricciardo to partner Nico Hülkenberg for the season.'Ricciardo to join Hulkenberg at Renault for 2019', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 03/08/2018), https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/8/ricciardo-joins-hulkenberg-at-renault-in-2019.html, (Accessed 03/08/2018) The pair seemed fairly evenly matched in the new RS19 during the tests, with the car running reliably barring a DRS failure for Ricciardo during the first week of testing.
Elsewhere, Renault's only customers for the 2019 campaign would be , who would take former factory driver Carlos Sainz, Jr. to lead their team following the departure of Fernando Alonso at the end of 2018.'McLaren: Carlos Sainz to replace Fernando Alonso from 2019', bbc.co.uk/sport, (British Broadcasting Company, 16/08/2018), https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/45208471, (Accessed 16/08/2018) The Spaniard would lead the line for McLaren alongside their latest Young Driver Programme graduate Lando Norris, the Brit having finished as runner-up in the 2018 F2 Championship.'McLaren: British teenager Lando Norris to replace Stoffel Vandoorne', bbc.co.uk/sport, (British Broadcasting Company, 03/09/2018), https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/45397134, (Accessed 03/09/2018) In terms of pace the new MCL34 appeared to be in the midfield, much like its predecessor, although the McLaren squad were confident that they could evolve the car consistently through the season.
===Honda Heroics?===
Completing the entry list would be the two engined teams, led by the team after their switch to the Japanese manufacturer at the end of 2018. Their effort would be led by Max Verstappen, officially confirmed as the team's number one driver, while Pierre Gasly was promoted to the senior team after his debut with in 2018. In terms of pace the new Red Bull RB15 proved both reliable and reasonably quick, with the majority of the F1 paddock placing the squad in third overall after the pre-season tests.
The final team on the entry list were Toro Rosso, who would have a complete change to their driver line-up for 2019.Matthew Scott, 'Toro Rosso reveal 2019 F1 car', gpfans.com, (GP Fans, 11/02/2019), https://www.gpfans.com/en/articles/4148/toro-rosso-reveal-2019-f1-car/, (Accessed 13/02/2019) Prepared for another season as Honda's test bed for Red Bull's engines, the Toro Rosso squad had adopted the Haas approach to building an F1 car, with the Toro Rosso STR14 using the maximum number of components allowed from the senior Red Bull squad. In terms of drivers, meanwhile, the team would field ex-racer Daniil Kvyat, returning to the team that had sacked him in , and former Red Bull Junior driver Alexander Albon after a strong F2 campaign in 2018.Andrew Benson, 'Alexander Albon: Toro Rosso deal for 2019 for British-born Thai driver', bbc.co.uk/sport, (British Broadcasting Company, 26/11/2018), https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/46350378, (Accessed 26/11/2018)
===Entry List===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor	Chassis	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
3 	Daniel Ricciardo 	Renault F1 Team 	 	RS19 	 	E-Tech 19 1.6 V6t 	
4 	Lando Norris 	McLaren F1 Team 	 	MCL34 	 	E-Tech 19 1.6 V6t 	
5 	Sebastian Vettel 	Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow 	 	SF90 	 	064 1.6 V6t 	
7 	Kimi Räikkönen 	Alfa Romeo Racing 	 	C38 	 	064 1.6 V6t 	
8 	Romain Grosjean 	Rich Energy Haas F1 Team 	 	VF-19 	 	064 1.6 V6t 	
10 	Pierre Gasly 	Aston Martin Red Bull Racing 	 	RB15 	 	RA619H 1.6 V6t 	
11 	Sergio Pérez 	SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team 	 	RP19 	BWT Mercedes	M10 EQ Power+ 1.6 V6t	
16 	Charles Leclerc 	Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow 	 	SF90 	 	064 1.6 V6t 	
18 	Lance Stroll 	SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team 	 	RP19 	BWT Mercedes	M10 EQ Power+ 1.6 V6t	
20 	Kevin Magnussen 	Rich Energy Haas F1 Team 	 	VF-19 	 	064 1.6 V6t 	
23 	Alexander Albon 	Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda 	 	STR14 	 	RA619H 1.6 V6t 	
26 	Daniil Kvyat 	Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda 	 	STR14 	 	RA619H 1.6 V6t 	
27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	Renault F1 Team 	 	RS19 	 	E-Tech 19 1.6 V6t 	
33 	Max Verstappen 	Aston Martin Red Bull Racing 	 	RB15 	 	RA619H 1.6 V6t 	
44 	Lewis Hamilton 	Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport	 	W10 	 	M10 EQ Power+ 1.6 V6t	
55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	McLaren F1 Team 	 	MCL34 	 	E-Tech 19 1.6 V6t 	
63 	George Russell 	ROKiT Williams Racing 	 	FW42 	 	M10 EQ Power+ 1.6 V6t	
77 	Valtteri Bottas 	Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport	 	W10 	 	M10 EQ Power+ 1.6 V6t	
88 	Robert Kubica 	ROKiT Williams Racing 	 	FW42 	 	M10 EQ Power+ 1.6 V6t	
99 	Antonio Giovinazzi	Alfa Romeo Racing 	 	C38 	 	064 1.6 V6t 	
Source:	Source: 	Source: 	Source: 	Source:	Source: 	Source: 	Source:
==Practice Overview==
===FP1===
===FP2===
===FP3===
===Practice Results===
No 	Driver 	Team 	FP1 	 	FP2 	 	FP3 	 	 	 	 	 	
No 	Driver 	Team 	Time 	Pos 	Time 	Pos 	Time 	Pos 	 	 	 	 	
3 	Daniel Ricciardo 	 	1:25.634	17 	1:23.644	8 	1:23.695	10 	 	 	 	 	
4 	Lando Norris 	 	1:25.966	18 	1:24.733	18 	1:24.568	18 	 	 	 	 	
5 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	1:23.637	2 	1:23.473	5 	1:22.556	2 	 	 	 	 	
7 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	1:24.816	6 	1:23.572	6 	1:24.402	17 	 	 	 	 	
8 	Romain Grosjean 	 	1:25.224	12 	1:23.814	10 	1:23.112	4 	 	 	 	 	
10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	1:24.932	8 	1:23.442	4 	1:23.367	6 	 	 	 	 	
11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	1:25.498	16 	1:24.401	16 	1:24.082	14 	 	 	 	 	
16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	1:23.673	3 	1:23.754	9 	1:22.749	3 	 	 	 	 	
18 	Lance Stroll 	 	1:25.288	15 	1:24.011	13 	1:24.345	16 	 	 	 	 	
20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	1:24.934	9 	1:23.988	12 	1:23.334	5 	 	 	 	 	
23 	Alexander Albon 	 	1:25.230	13 	1:24.675	17 	1:24.328	15 	 	 	 	 	
26 	Daniil Kvyat 	 	1:24.832	7 	1:23.933	11 	1:23.442	8 	 	 	 	 	
27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	1:25.015	10 	1:23.574	7 	1:23.737	11 	 	 	 	 	
33 	Max Verstappen 	 	1:23.792	4 	1:23.400	3 	1:23.481	9 	 	 	 	 	
44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	1:23.599	1 	1:22.600	1 	1:22.292	1 	 	 	 	 	
55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	 	1:25.285	14 	1:24.133	14 	1:24.049	13 	 	 	 	 	
63 	George Russell 	 	1:28.740	20 	1:26.453	19 	1:25.944	19 	 	 	 	 	
77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	1:23.866	5 	1:22.648	2 	1:23.422	7 	 	 	 	 	
88 	Robert Kubica 	 	1:27.914	19 	1:26.655	20 	1:26.589	20 	 	 	 	 	
99 	Antonio Giovinazzi	 	1:25.166	11 	1:24.293	15 	1:23.831	12 	 	 	 	 	
Source:	Source: 	Source:	Source: 	Source:	Source: 	Source:	Source: 	Source:	Source:	Source:	Source:	Source:	Source:
==Qualifying==
===Q1===
===Q2===
===Q3===
===Qualifying Results===
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Q1 	Q1 	 	Q2 	Q2 	 	Q3 	Q3 	Grid
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Pos 	Time 	 	Pos 	Time 	 	Pos 	Time 	Grid
1 	44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	 	2 	1:22.043 	 	1 	1:21.014 	 	1 	1:20.486 	1
2 	77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	 	3 	1:22.367 	 	2 	1:21.193 	 	2 	1:20.598 	2
3 	5 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	 	11 	1:22.885 	 	6 	1:21.912 	 	3 	1:21.190 	3
4 	33 	Max Verstappen 	 	 	10 	1:22.876 	 	3 	1:21.678 	 	4 	1:21.320 	4
5 	16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	 	1 	1:22.017 	 	4 	1:21.739 	 	5 	1:21.442 	5
6 	8 	Romain Grosjean 	 	 	14 	1:22.959 	 	5 	1:21.870 	 	6 	1:21.826 	6
7 	20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	 	6 	1:22.519 	 	7 	1:22.221 	 	7 	1:22.099 	7
8 	4 	Lando Norris 	 	 	8 	1:22.702 	 	9 	1:22.423 	 	8 	1:22.304 	8
9 	7 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	 	15 	1:22.966 	 	8 	1:22.349 	 	9 	1:22.314 	9
10 	11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	 	12 	1:22.908 	 	10 	1:22.532 	 	10 	1:22.781 	10
11 	27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	 	7 	1:22.540 	 	11 	1:22.562 	 	 	 	11
12 	3 	Daniel Ricciardo 	 	 	13 	1:22.921 	 	12 	1:22.570 	 	 	 	12
13 	23 	Alexander Albon 	 	 	9 	1:22.757 	 	13 	1:22.636 	 	 	 	13
14 	99 	Antonio Giovinazzi 	 	 	4 	1:22.431 	 	14 	1:22.714 	 	 	 	14
15 	26 	Daniil Kvyat 	 	 	5 	1:22.511 	 	15 	1:22.774 	 	 	 	15
16 	18 	Lance Stroll 	 	 	16 	1:23.017 	 	 	 	 	 	 	16
17 	10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	 	17 	1:23.020 	 	 	 	 	 	 	17
18 	55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	 	 	18 	1:23.084 	 	 	 	 	 	 	18
19 	63 	George Russell 	 	 	19 	1:24.360 	 	 	 	 	 	 	19
20 	88 	Robert Kubica 	 	 	20 	1:26.067 	 	 	 	 	 	 	20
107% time: 1:27.758	107% time: 1:27.758	107% time: 1:27.758	107% time: 1:27.758	107% time: 1:27.758	107% time: 1:27.758	107% time: 1:27.758	107% time: 1:27.758	107% time: 1:27.758	107% time: 1:27.758	107% time: 1:27.758	107% time: 1:27.758	107% time: 1:27.758	107% time: 1:27.758
Source: 	Source: 	Source: 	Source: 	Source: 	Source: 	Source: 	Source: 	Source: 	Source: 	Source: 	Source: 	Source: 	Source:
===Grid===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
 	77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	58 	1 h 25 m 27.325 s	2 	26*
 	44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	58 	+ 20.886 s 	1 	18
 	33 	Max Verstappen 	 	58 	+ 22.520 s 	4 	15
 	5 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	58 	+ 57.109 s 	3 	12
 	16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	58 	+ 58.320 s 	5 	10
 	20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	58 	+ 1 m 27.156 s 	7 	8
 	27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	57 	+ 1 lap 	11 	6
 	7 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	57 	+ 1 lap 	9 	4
 	18 	Lance Stroll 	 	57 	+ 1 lap 	16 	2
 	26 	Daniil Kvyat 	 	57 	+ 1 lap 	15 	1
11th 	10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	57 	+ 1 lap 	17 	
12th 	4 	Lando Norris 	 	57 	+ 1 lap 	8 	
13th 	11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	57 	+ 1 lap 	10 	
14th 	23 	Alexander Albon 	 	57 	+ 1 lap 	13 	
15th 	99 	Antonio Giovinazzi	 	57 	+ 1 lap 	14 	
16th 	63 	George Russell 	 	56 	+ 2 laps 	19 	
17th 	88 	Robert Kubica 	 	55 	+ 3 laps 	20 	
 	8 	Romain Grosjean 	 	29 	Wheel 	6 	
 	3 	Daniel Ricciardo 	 	28 	Damage 	12 	
 	55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	 	9 	MGU-K 	18 	
Source:	Source:	Source: 	Source: 	Source:	Source: 	Source:	Source:
* * 25 points for the win and 1 point for the fastest lap.
==Milestones==
*Debut race for George Russell, Lando Norris and Alexander Albon.
* returned as a "constructor" for the first time since the 1985 Australian Grand Prix.
* made their debut as a constructor.
*Robert Kubica would make his first Grand Prix start since the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
*Daniil Kvyat was to start his first race since the 2017 United States Grand Prix.
*Antonio Giovinazzi would make his first appearance since the 2017 Chinese Grand Prix.
*Daniil Kvyat's 75th entry (73rd start).
*Carlos Sainz, Jr.'s first race for .
*Charles Leclerc's first race for .
*Kimi Räikkönen's first race for Alfa Romeo.
*Lance Stroll's first race for Racing Point.
*Daniel Ricciardo's first race for .
*Pierre Gasly's first race for .
*Lewis Hamilton equals Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna's number of eight pole positions at the Australian Grand Prix.
==Standings==
Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Valtteri Bottas 	26 	
2 	Lewis Hamilton 	18 	
3 	Max Verstappen 	15 	
4 	Sebastian Vettel 	12 	
5 	Charles Leclerc 	10 	
6 	Kevin Magnussen 	8 	
7 	Nico Hülkenberg 	6 	
8 	Kimi Räikkönen 	4 	
9 	Lance Stroll 	2 	
10 	Daniil Kvyat 	1 	
Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	44 	
2 	 	22 	
3 	 	15 	
4 	 	8 	
5 	 	6 	
6 	 	4 	
7 	 	2 	
8 	 	1 	
Only point-scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos: 
* Haas F1 Team, 'We can't stop staring!', twitter.com, (Twitter: Haas F1 Team, 07/02/2019), https://twitter.com/HaasF1Team?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor, (Accessed 05/03/2019)
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2019 Grands Prix
Category:Australian Grand Prix