The 2023 edition of the F1 Australian Grand Prix is finally here.
After a successful 2022 race that brought record crowds to Albert Park, the event returns to Melbourne with much anticipation.
Fan favourite Daniel Ricciardo won't be on track in Melbourne this time around, but spectators will have another Aussie to cheer on, with Oscar Piastri driving for McLaren.
The Sporting News takes you through all the key details.
MORE: Who is Oscar Piastri? The latest Aussie to join the F1 grid
When is the F1 Australian Grand Prix 2023?
The 2023 edition of the Australian Grand Prix is taking place between March 30 - April 2, 2023.
Thanks to a new contract extension, F1 will hold a race in Melbourne until at least the end of 2037.
This year's Grand Prix is also featuring Formula 2 and Formula 3 races, with both racing championships becoming a long-term component of the weekend.
F1 Australian Grand Prix 2023 schedule: Practice, qualifying, race start time
Thursday, March 30:
- No F1 cars on track
Friday, March 31:
- Free Practice 1 (12:30 pm - 1:30 pm AEDT)
- Free Practice 2 (4:00 pm - 5:00 pm AEDT)
Saturday, March 1:
- Free Practice 3 (12:30 pm - 1:30 pm AEDT)
- Qualifying (4:00 pm - 5:00 pm AEDT)
Sunday, March 2:
- Race (3:00 pm - approx. 5:00 pm AEST)
The full track schedule - including F2, F3, Supercars and Carrera Cup timings - is available via the Grand Prix's official website.
F1 Australian Grand Prix 2023: Albert Park changes and track map
The Albert Park Circuit underwent some renovations ahead of the 2022 Grand Prix, which will remain for this year's event, along with a new addition.
A fourth DRS zone has been added for this year's race between Turns 8 and 9, meaning Albert Park becomes the only track on the F1 circuit to have more than three activation zones.
This extra change will make this year's spectacle "the fastest race in Melbourne ever", according to Australian Grand Prix CEO Andrew Westacott
"You've got the evolution of the cars from last year, they've obviously got better, and the fourth DRS zone means the cars will be quicker around the back of the circuit," Westacott told the Herald Sun.
To enable more overtaking opportunities and promote faster and more competitive racing, seven corners were adjusted last year, with two removed entirely.
The chicane at Turn 9 and 10 was also removed.
You can view the track and Albert Park precinct map here.
F1 Australian Grand Prix 2023 tickets and resellers
The popularity of Formula 1 is currently sky-high in Australia, and that has been reflected in the ticket sales for the 2023 Grand Prix.
Most ticket types were snapped up quickly following each of the three initial releases, as well as an extra fourth release.
Park Pass (general admission) and grandstand seats for Saturday and Sunday are now sold out, but some hospitality options remain and can be purchased via the official Grand Prix website here.
How to watch the F1 Australian Grand Prix 2023: Channel, free-to-air, streaming
An inclusion in the Australian Government's anti-siphoning list, the Australian Grand Prix will be shown live on free-to-air television.
Channel 10 currently broadcast race highlights of every Grand Prix, and will air all the action from Albert Park in 2023.
Fox Sports and Kayo - who show every race live throughout the season - will also broadcast the race.
F1 Australian Grand Prix 2023 driver grid
A number of changes have been made from last season's grid.
Notably, Australian Daniel Ricciardo has been replaced at McLaren by fellow countryman Oscar Piastri.
Elsewhere, Pierre Gasly has moved to Alpine, Fernando Alonso has shifted to Aston Martin, Nico Hülkenberg has returned to F1 with Haas, while Logan Sargeant and Nyck de Vries are debuting for Williams and Alpha Tauri respectively.
| Team | Drivers |
| Mercedes | Lewis Hamilton & George Russell |
| Red Bull | Max Verstappen & Sergio Perez |
| Ferrari | Charles Leclerc & Carlos Sainz |
| McLaren | Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri |
| Aston Martin | Fernando Alonso & Lance Stroll |
| Alpha Tauri | Yuki Tsunoda & Nyck de Vries |
| Alpine | Esteban Ocon & Pierre Gasly |
| Alfa Romeo | Valtteri Bottas & Guanyu Zhou |
| Williams | Alex Albon & Logan Sargeant |
| Haas | Kevin Magnussen & Nico Hülkenberg |
Who won the last F1 Australian Grand Prix?
Charles Leclerc dominated the Australian Grand Prix in 2022, picking up his second win of the year in a race that saw eventual world champion Max Verstappen fail to finish.
The Monegasque driver led all 58 laps in Melbourne but his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz was not so fortunate, spinning out on the first lap after trying to recover from a poor start.
Red Bull's Sergio Perez and Mercedes' George Russell rounded out the podium at Albert Park.
