2023 F1 Australian GP Preview

The third round of the 2023 F1 World Championship will be held this weekend in Melbourne, Australia.

The Australian Grand Prix in its current format will be held at the Albert Park circuit. Last season, the layout was slightly modified to increase corner speeds and improve overtaking. The asphalt has also been renewed.

Seven corners were changed, two of which were completely removed. This year a fourth DRS zone was added between turns 8 and 9, which could allow cars to reach new top speeds.

Another important change this year is the tire compound. Pirelli has chosen white hard for C2, yellow medium for C3, and red soft for C4. This is a slightly softer combination than last year's C2, C3, and C5 compounds.

The weather in Melbourne is mixed, but the current forecast calls for mild temperatures and partly cloudy skies for both Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race. The Australian GP is also the first day race of the season.

At the end of Friday's practice session, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso set the fastest time ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen.

Heading into the weekend, Verstappen leads the 2023 drivers' championship with 44 points. Sergio Perez, also of Red Bull, is second with 43 points and Alonso is third with 30 points. In the constructors' championship, Red Bull leads with 87 points, while Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz AMG are tied on 38 points. Last season, it was Ferrari's Leclerc who won in Australia.