Formula 1 goes Down Under this weekend as the 20 drivers gear up for the Australian Grand Prix at the iconic Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne.
Max Verstappen will be looking to make it three successive wins, after the Dutchman picked up where he left off last season with victories in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
The 26-year-old led home another Red Bull 1-2, with Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc rounding off the podium positions.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, had a race to forget after he finished down in ninth. The seven-time world champion came home ahead of Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, who Williams F1 star Alex Albon believed was the beneficiary of a gaping flaw in the sport’s approach to in-race penalties.
Here is all you need to know ahead of lights out in Australia.
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When is the Australian Grand Prix?
The race gets under way on Sunday, March 24 at 4am GMT, 12am ET and 9pm PT (Saturday, March, 23).
Next stop: Albert Park 🇦🇺🦘#F1 @ausgrandprix pic.twitter.com/nvUhKn75TW
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 16, 2024
What time is qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix?
Qualifying for the race takes place on Saturday, March 24 at 5am GMT, 1am ET and 10pm PT (Friday, March, 22).
How can I watch the Australian Grand Prix on TV?
Viewers in the UK can watch the race live on Sky Sports, while those in the US can catch the action on ESPN.
Who is the reigning F1 champion?
Max Verstappen topped the drivers’ standings for Red Bull last year – his third title in a row.
2024 F1 Drivers’ Standings
| Position | Driver | Team | Wins | Points |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 2 | 51 |
| 2 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 0 | 36 |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 0 | 28 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | 0 | 18 |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 0 | 16 |
| 6 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 0 | 15 |
| 7 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 0 | 12 |
| 8 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 0 | 12 |
| 9 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 0 | 8 |
| 10 | Oliver Bearman | Ferrari | 0 | 6 |
| 11 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Alex Albon | Williams | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Logan Sargeant | Williams | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 0 | 0 |
2024 F1 Constructors’ Standings
| Position | Team | Wins | Points |
| 1 | Red Bull | 2 | 87 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 0 | 49 |
| 3 | McLaren | 0 | 28 |
| 4 | Mercedes | 0 | 26 |
| 5 | Aston Martin | 0 | 13 |
| 6 | Haas | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Williams | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Sauber | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | RB | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Alpine | 0 | 0 |
