Ferrari start well

Ferrari proved themselves as the only team able to fight Mercedes in the Australian Grand Prix. In practise starts at Bahrain a few weeks ago, Ferrari had a massive advantage at the lights, and that carried through into the race in Melbourne. From starting 4th, Charles Leclerc took the lead in turn 1. Hamilton gaining 2 places from 7th to go into 5th. In the early stages Leclerc and Russell had an epic battle, constantly swapping. And behind them Lewis Hamilton was catching fast, with it eventually being a Ferrari sandwich with George Russell the meat. But when the virtual safety car came out after Isack Hadjar was forced to retire, Mercedes boxed their drivers, whilst Ferrari stayed out. Which ultimately cost the Scuderia, as both the Mercedes' were able to make a 1 stop, going 47 laps on hard tyres work, and still delivered times matching Ferrari's even after they pit at the mid-point of the race.

No luck for Hadjar in first race for Red Bull

In Qualifying, Isack Hadjar showed exactly why Red Bull promoted him, qualifying P3, after his teammate Max Verstappen crashed in Q1. And in the start of the race, the Frenchman looked to be on for a good result, dropping a couple places to P5 due to Ferrari's incredible launch at the start. However he only made it to lap 11 with engine issues bringing an early end to his Red Bull debut. Which brought out the Virtual Safety Car that was crucial to Mercedes' 1-2. 

Heartbreak again for the home-town hero

It was another Australian Grand Prix to forget for local boy Oscar Piastri, who never made it to light out. On a practise lap before the race, the Aussie hit the curb at the exit of turn 4, sending his McLaren into the wall and out of the race before it could event start. Last year Piastri went onto the grass in tricky conditions, and looked to be out, but miraculously managed to get going and finished 9th. There could be no miracle this year though, a disappointing start to the season for last years title challenger. He wasn't the only one not to start, as Nico Hulkenberg also failed to see lights out after a technical issue for his Audi. In qualifying his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto also suffered a technical issue, taking him out of Q3, reliability being an issue for Audi early on.