What time is the Australian F1 Grand Prix and how can I watch?

24 Mar 2024

Fox Sports

F1 is back in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, which has hosted the race since 1996.

There are two Aussies on the grid for the first time since 2013, with Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri hoping to become the first-ever home grown winner down under.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 58-lap race at 3pm AEDT on Sunday.

Watch the FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX LIVE in 4K and ad-break free during racing, Sunday 3pm AEDT. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

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THE RADICAL TYRE MOVE

Pirelli has made a radical call for this weekend’s action. For the first time this season, drivers will be able to use the C5 compound – the softest compound available from the tyre manufacturer.

They can also use the C4 and C3 compounds.

Remarkably, the safest compound available hasn’t been used at a Grand Prix since 2022 – also in Melbourne. But that year, they brought the C2 and C3 compound as well, instead of this year’s C4.

Not only do the teams not use the C5 tyre often in races, they also ran precious little testing on the tyre in pre-season.

During the test in Bahrain before the season began, the ten F1 teams ran a combined total of just 140 kilometres on the C5 tyre – far less than any other tyre. Lewis Hamilton did one long run on the C5 in Bahrain, so his Mercedes might have a crucial leg up for Melbourne.

Softer tyres are typically faster but suffer more degradation. Using the C5 could potentially open up more race strategies, instead of the typical one-stop deployed at Albert Park.

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SUPERCARS’ HECTIC WEEKEND

Australia’s premiere racing category, Supercars, is also in action this weekend with four sprint races. It’s the fastest track of the season – just shading Bathurst with an average speed around 180km/h – and a jam-packed weekend means plenty of action on show.

Thursday and Friday’s 19-lap races will time out at 40 minutes. Saturday and Sunday’s 14-lap races will be capped at half an hour. And there’ll be no pit stops – so it’s just all-out sprint racing.

F1 STARTING GRID

1. Max Verstappen

2. Carlos Sainz

3. Lando Norris

4. Charles Leclerc

5. Oscar Piastri

6. Sergio Perez*

7. George Russell

8. Yuki Tsunoda

9. Lance Stroll

10. Fernando Alonso

11. Lewis Hamilton

12. Alex Albon

13. Valtteri Bottas

14. Kevin Magnussen

15. Esteban Ocon

16. Nico Hulkenberg

17. Pierre Gasly

18. Daniel Ricciardo

19. Zhou Guanyu

*Sergio Perez was given a three-place grid penalty

HOW MANY FANS?

Lots. Over 450,000 are expected to flood into Albert Park over the four days.

HOW TO WATCH

The entire Australian Grand Prix, including every practice, qualifying and race, can be watched live and ad-break free on Foxtel.

Kayo Sports subscribers can also watch every practice, qualifying session and race of the F1 live in 4K for the first time.

Watch the FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX LIVE in 4K and ad-break free during racing, Sunday 3pm AEDT. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

PAST WINNERS

2023 – Max Verstappen, Red Bull

2022 – Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2021 – No race due to Covid-19 pandemic

2020 – No race due to Covid-19 pandemic

2019 – Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

2018 – Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari

2017 – Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari

Steiner opens up on shock Haas exit | 02:12

THE SCHEDULE

The full schedule is available below, with the three Formula categories listed first before the Supercars schedule.

F1, F2, F3 SCHEDULE