F1 news LIVE: Lewis Hamilton raises alarm after fans spill onto track at Australia GP
Lewis Hamilton raised the alarm towards the end of the Australian Grand Prix as some fans came inside the fence perimeter before the race had ended.
A hectic and entertaining grand prix, won by Max Verstappen, saw an F1 record of three red flags thrown and carnage ensue at the end of the race, with fans climbing the perimeter fencing and a group making their way inside the fence too.
Hamilton, who finished second, made the point to his race engineer Peter Bonnington: “There’s people on the track, man, some fans have got on.”
Elsewhere, Max Verstappen slammed the FIA for their decision-making in Melbourne, Hamilton delivered a reality check to Mercedes after finishing on the podium for the first time this season while Carlos Sainz was raging with the stewards after a five-second penalty saw him miss out on points.
Follow all the latest F1 news and reaction after the Australian GP
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COMMENT: Chaotic Australian Grand Prix reveals the dilemma at the heart of F1’s future
Lewis Hamilton raised the alarm as fans entered the track before the race ended
Fan at Australian Grand Prix left bleeding after cut to arm from car debris
Carlos Sainz was raging after his five-second penalty saw him miss out on points
Click HERE for the standings at the Australian Grand Prix
Fan at Australian GP left bleeding after cut to arm from car debris
15:42 , Kieran Jackson
A spectator at Formula 1’s Australian Grand Prix suffered a cut to his arm when struck by a piece of debris from Kevin Magnussen’s car, putting the spotlight on organisers’ safety protocols.
The spotlight is on the safety protocols of organisers at Albert Park after fans spilled onto the track before the race, won by Max Verstappen, concluded on Sunday night.
But spectator Will Sweet added to concerns as he told Australian radio station 3AW that he was standing with his fiancee on a packed hill just off turn two at Albert Park during Sunday’s race, when the Haas driver’s car hit the track-side barrier - sending his tyre and debris flying into the air.
“It slapped me in the arm and I was just standing there bleeding,” he said.
“My arm was covering where my neck would’ve been, but if that had hit my fiancee it would’ve got her in the head.”
Fan at Australian Grand Prix left bleeding after cut to arm from car debris
Lewis Hamilton delivers reality check after ‘remarkable’ Australian Grand Prix result
15:29 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton hailed a “remarkable” podium finish at the Australian Grand Prix after admitting he is still struggling to get to grips with his Mercedes car.
Hamilton finished second to race winner Max Verstappen in a chaotic race in Melbourne despite continuing to feel “uncomfortable” and being unable to “connect” with his Mercedes.
The result was Hamilton’s best result of the season as the 37-year-old was able to hold off the challenge of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso to finish second on the podium.
And there appeared to be further encouraging signs for Mercedes with George Russell fighting at the front of the race before his hopes were dashed by engine failure.
Hamilton’s second place finish extended his streak of 17 seasons with a podium but the seven-time champion delivered a reality check as he discussed how far Mercedes still need to go to challenge Verstappen and Red Bull.
Lewis Hamilton delivers reality check after ‘remarkable’ Australian Grand Prix result
Timeline of chaos: How the Australian Grand Prix unfolded
15:06 , Kieran Jackson
Three red flags, eight DNFs and a bizarre finish to one of the most extraordinary races in Formula One history. Here is how the Australian Grand Prix unfolded.
The grid
Max Verstappen starts on pole ahead of the Mercedes duo George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso starts fourth, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz sixth, and their teammates Lance Stroll and Charles Leclerc are seventh and eighth. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez starts from the pitlane after engine troubles in qualifying.
Lap 1/58: Mercedes burst past Verstappen as Leclerc crashes out
George Russell takes the lead, taking Max Verstappen down the inside into turn 1, and then Lewis Hamilton does the same down into turn 4. But Charles Leclerc is taken out of the race by Lance Stroll! The safety car emerges. Verstappen complains over team radio that Hamilton “pushed him off the track” but there is no investigation into the incident.
Lap 7/58: Albon crashes out of the race — red flag ð©
Alex Albon is going along nicely in sixth when he loses control and crashes out. Another safety car needed.
Russell pits as Hamilton stays out and leads, though the seven-time world champion is not happy. “This has put me at a massive disadvantage,” Hamilton tells his team. But he’s wrong as the red flag comes out due to gravel on the track, suspending the race and sending everyone to the garage where they can change their tyres, and it means Russell has slid back to first to seventh for no good reason. The race restarts from the grid and Hamilton maintains the lead.
P1-10: Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Stroll, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Russell, Tsunoda, Norris, Piastri.
Timeline of chaos: How the Australian Grand Prix unfolded
Lando Norris speaks out about late red flags and standing starts
14:45 , Kieran Jackson
“I kind of hate it. I don’t like the restarts. I guess, maybe in the first quarter of the race, I understand it,” the McLaren driver said.
“(In) the second half, and especially with four laps to go, I feel like you ruin a lot of things. And I don’t feel like it’s fair for a lot of people who have done a good job and they get taken out.
“We come all the way to Australia, but it’s so much hard work to drive 56, 55 laps perfectly. And, because they try and put on a show, you just get unlucky, and everything can get taken away from you all of a sudden.
“So I just think that side of it, I just think it needs a small rethink.”
George Russell rues bad luck after car catches fire at Australian GP
14:22 , Kieran Jackson
George Russell insists he could have won the Australian Grand Prix had events not turned drastically against him.
Starting second on the grid, the British driver launched past Max Verstappen to take the lead of the race, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton also squeezing past the Red Bull driver to take second.
An early crash for Alex Albon resulted in Russell pitting, before a red flag meant the 25-year-old dropped down to seventh for no advantage as the rest of the field changed tyres in the pit lane.
Russell recovered to fourth when the action got going again, but a power unit failure resulted in his retirement and the 25-year-old had to speedily exit the car with the rear of his Mercedes on fire.
“When it’s not your day it’s not your day, I guess,” he told Sky F1.
George Russell rues bad luck after car catches fire at Australian GP
Max Verstappen blames F1 stewards for ‘mess’ of Australian Grand Prix ending
13:57 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen called the bizarre conclusion to Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix a “confusing mess” and accused Formula One’s stewards of bringing the chaos on themselves.
Verstappen survived the mayhem to take his second victory from the opening three races and extend his championship lead over team-mate Sergio Perez to 15 points.
Lewis Hamilton finished second to claim both his and Mercedes’ first podium of the year, with Fernando Alonso third for Aston Martin. Perez drove back from last to fifth, while George Russell retired with an engine failure.
Verstappen’s first triumph on Melbourne soil was placed in danger on lap 54 of 58 when Kevin Magnussen’s right-rear tyre flew off his Haas after he smashed into the Albert Park wall.
With debris on the asphalt, the stewards stopped the race for a second time following Alex Albon’s earlier smash.
Max Verstappen blames F1 stewards for ‘mess’ of Australian Grand Prix ending
Chaotic Australian Grand Prix reveals the dilemma at the heart of F1’s future
13:33 , Kieran Jackson
Comment by Kieran Jackson
Surely, the irony was not lost on some. An absorbing, highly-charged grand prix weekend down under started with bickering over the future of the Formula 1 race weekend. So much so in fact, amid a potential change of the sprint weekend structure, that reigning world champion Max Verstappen threatened to walk away from the sport.
By Sunday evening, with the race result finally confirmed just past 11pm in Melbourne, driver debate had turned to the throwing of red flags and the FIA’s justification for such actions. Three red flags were thrown in an action-packed race: an F1 record.
And who was present looking on, returning to the paddock for the first time since that day? That’s right, Michael Masi: the highly-criticised Australian at the helm for the Abu Dhabi controversy which concluded the 2021 season.
Masi was present at Albert Park in his new role as the chairman of the Australian Supercars series yet was spotted embracing, among others, Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley on Thursday. Needless to say, any welcome was not so warm at Mercedes.
Since that bungling of the safety car procedure, which resulted in Verstappen winning his first World Championship and Lewis Hamilton missing out on a record-breaking eighth crown, F1 has found itself in a wrangle.
Chaotic Australian Grand Prix reveals dilemma at the heart of F1’s future
Lewis Hamilton in disbelief after fans climb fence and enter track at Australian GP
12:59 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton was in a state of disbelief after a group of fans climbed the perimeter fence and forged a way onto the circuit before the end of Sunday’s chaotic Australian Grand Prix.
A hectic and entertaining race, won by Max Verstappen, saw an F1 record of three red flags thrown and carnage ensue at the end of the race, with fans climbing the perimeter fencing and a group making their way inside the fence too as fast-moving cars sped past them on the circuit.
Hamilton, who finished second, made the point to his race engineer Peter Bonnington: “There’s people on the track, man, some fans have got on.”
Some of the 131,000 supporters at the Albert Park Circuit even reached Nico Hulkenberg’s abandoned Haas at the exit to turn two, after the German had a failure after the chequered flag.
The FIA, F1’s governing body, said that “security measures and the protocols which were expected to be in place for the event were not enforced resulting in an unsafe environment for the spectators, drivers and race officials”.
Hamilton in disbelief after fans climb fence and enter track at end of Australian GP
Fan at Australian GP left bleeding after cut to arm from car debris
12:43 , Kieran Jackson
A spectator at Formula 1’s Australian Grand Prix suffered a cut to his arm when struck by a piece of debris from Kevin Magnussen’s car, putting the spotlight on organisers’ safety protocols.
The spotlight is on the safety protocols of organisers at Albert Park after fans spilled onto the track before the race, won by Max Verstappen, concluded on Sunday night.
But spectator Will Sweet added to concerns as he told Australian radio station 3AW that he was standing with his fiancee on a packed hill just off turn two at Albert Park during Sunday’s race, when the Haas driver’s car hit the track-side barrier - sending his tyre and debris flying into the air.
“It slapped me in the arm and I was just standing there bleeding,” he said.
“My arm was covering where my neck would’ve been, but if that had hit my fiancee it would’ve got her in the head.”
Fan at Australian Grand Prix left bleeding after cut to arm from car debris
Timeline of chaos: How the Australian Grand Prix unfolded
12:22 , Kieran Jackson
Three red flags, eight DNFs and a bizarre finish to one of the most extraordinary races in Formula One history. Here is how the Australian Grand Prix unfolded.
The grid
Max Verstappen starts on pole ahead of the Mercedes duo George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso starts fourth, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz sixth, and their teammates Lance Stroll and Charles Leclerc are seventh and eighth. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez starts from the pitlane after engine troubles in qualifying.
Lap 1/58: Mercedes burst past Verstappen as Leclerc crashes out
George Russell takes the lead, taking Max Verstappen down the inside into turn 1, and then Lewis Hamilton does the same down into turn 4. But Charles Leclerc is taken out of the race by Lance Stroll! The safety car emerges. Verstappen complains over team radio that Hamilton “pushed him off the track” but there is no investigation into the incident.
Lap 7/58: Albon crashes out of the race — red flag ð©
Alex Albon is going along nicely in sixth when he loses control and crashes out. Another safety car needed.
Russell pits as Hamilton stays out and leads, though the seven-time world champion is not happy. “This has put me at a massive disadvantage,” Hamilton tells his team. But he’s wrong as the red flag comes out due to gravel on the track, suspending the race and sending everyone to the garage where they can change their tyres, and it means Russell has slid back to first to seventh for no good reason. The race restarts from the grid and Hamilton maintains the lead.
P1-10: Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Stroll, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Russell, Tsunoda, Norris, Piastri.
Timeline of chaos: How the Australian Grand Prix unfolded
Lewis Hamilton delivers reality check after ‘remarkable’ Australian Grand Prix result
11:59 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton hailed a “remarkable” podium finish at the Australian Grand Prix after admitting he is still struggling to get to grips with his Mercedes car.
Hamilton finished second to race winner Max Verstappen in a chaotic race in Melbourne despite continuing to feel “uncomfortable” and being unable to “connect” with his Mercedes.
The result was Hamilton’s best result of the season as the 37-year-old was able to hold off the challenge of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso to finish second on the podium.
And there appeared to be further encouraging signs for Mercedes with George Russell fighting at the front of the race before his hopes were dashed by engine failure.
Hamilton’s second place finish extended his streak of 17 seasons with a podium but the seven-time champion delivered a reality check as he discussed how far Mercedes still need to go to challenge Verstappen and Red Bull.
Lewis Hamilton delivers reality check after ‘remarkable’ Australian Grand Prix result
George Russell rues bad luck after car catches fire at Australian GP
11:45 , Kieran Jackson
George Russell insists he could have won the Australian Grand Prix had events not turned drastically against him.
Starting second on the grid, the British driver launched past Max Verstappen to take the lead of the race, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton also squeezing past the Red Bull driver to take second.
An early crash for Alex Albon resulted in Russell pitting, before a red flag meant the 25-year-old dropped down to seventh for no advantage as the rest of the field changed tyres in the pit lane.
Russell recovered to fourth when the action got going again, but a power unit failure resulted in his retirement and the 25-year-old had to speedily exit the car with the rear of his Mercedes on fire.
“When it’s not your day it’s not your day, I guess,” he told Sky F1.
George Russell rues bad luck after car catches fire at Australian GP
Lewis Hamilton in disbelief after fans climb fence and enter track at Australian GP
11:35 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton was in a state of disbelief after a group of fans climbed the perimeter fence and forged a way onto the circuit before the end of Sunday’s chaotic Australian Grand Prix.
A hectic and entertaining race, won by Max Verstappen, saw an F1 record of three red flags thrown and carnage ensue at the end of the race, with fans climbing the perimeter fencing and a group making their way inside the fence too as fast-moving cars sped past them on the circuit.
Hamilton, who finished second, made the point to his race engineer Peter Bonnington: “There’s people on the track, man, some fans have got on.”
Some of the 131,000 supporters at the Albert Park Circuit even reached Nico Hulkenberg’s abandoned Haas at the exit to turn two, after the German had a failure after the chequered flag.
The FIA, F1’s governing body, said that “security measures and the protocols which were expected to be in place for the event were not enforced resulting in an unsafe environment for the spectators, drivers and race officials”.
Hamilton in disbelief after fans climb fence and enter track at end of Australian GP
Here’s what happened right at the end of the Australian Grand Prix
11:20 , Kieran Jackson
Carnage at the third and final standing start!
WOW! WOW! WOW!
Absolute CHAOS after the restart! RED FLAG again! pic.twitter.com/LmoqqnA77B— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) April 2, 2023
Carlos Sainz raging at ‘most unfair’ penalty and cuts short interview at Australian GP
10:56 , Kieran Jackson
Carlos Sainz was fuming after finishing out of the points at the Australian Grand Prix, describing a late punishment as the “most unfair penalty I’ve seen in my life.”
At the end of a crazy race in Melbourne, Sainz was given a five-second penalty for a collision with Fernando Alonso after the third red flag was thrown.
Yet with the remaining cars taking the chequered flag behind the safety car, it meant Sainz dropped from fourth on the leaderboard down to 12th, out of the points, and last out of all the finished cars.
When told of the penalty over team radio, Sainz was incandescent: “No, it cannot be!
“Why is this me out of the points. No it’s unacceptable. They need to wait until the race is finished. No!”
Sainz raging at ‘most unfair’ penalty and cuts short interview at Australian GP
FULL CLASSIFICATION at Australian Grand Prix
10:35 , Kieran Jackson
1) Max Verstappen (25 points)
2) Lewis Hamilton (18 points)
3) Fernando Alonso (15 points)
4) Lance Stroll (12 points)
5) Sergio Perez (10 points + 1 point, fastest lap)
6) Lando Norris (8 points)
7) Nico Hulkenberg (6 points)
8) Oscar Piastri (4 points)
9) Zhou Guanyu (2 points)
10) Yuki Tsunoda (1 point)
11) Valtteri Bottas
12) Carlos Sainz
13) Pierre Gasly - DNF
14) Esteban Ocon - DNF
15) Nyck de Vries - DNF
16) Logan Sargeant - DNF
17) Kevin Magnussen - DNF
18) George Russell - DNF
19) Alex Albon - DNF
20) Charles Leclerc - DNF
Max Verstappen blames F1 stewards for ‘mess’ of Australian Grand Prix ending
10:31 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen called the bizarre conclusion to Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix a “confusing mess” and accused Formula One’s stewards of bringing the chaos on themselves.
Verstappen survived the mayhem to take his second victory from the opening three races and extend his championship lead over team-mate Sergio Perez to 15 points.
Lewis Hamilton finished second to claim both his and Mercedes’ first podium of the year, with Fernando Alonso third for Aston Martin. Perez drove back from last to fifth, while George Russell retired with an engine failure.
Verstappen’s first triumph on Melbourne soil was placed in danger on lap 54 of 58 when Kevin Magnussen’s right-rear tyre flew off his Haas after he smashed into the Albert Park wall.
With debris on the asphalt, the stewards stopped the race for a second time following Alex Albon’s earlier smash.
Max Verstappen blames F1 stewards for ‘mess’ of Australian Grand Prix ending
F1 news: Chaotic Australian Grand Prix reveals the dilemma at the heart of F1’s future
10:25 , Kieran Jackson
Comment by Kieran Jackson
Surely, the irony was not lost on some. An absorbing, highly-charged grand prix weekend down under started with bickering over the future of the Formula 1 race weekend. So much so in fact, amid a potential change of the sprint weekend structure, that reigning world champion Max Verstappen threatened to walk away from the sport.
By Sunday evening, with the race result finally confirmed just past 11pm in Melbourne, driver debate had turned to the throwing of red flags and the FIA’s justification for such actions. Three red flags were thrown in an action-packed race: an F1 record.
And who was present looking on, returning to the paddock for the first time since that day? That’s right, Michael Masi: the highly-criticised Australian at the helm for the Abu Dhabi controversy which concluded the 2021 season.
Masi was present at Albert Park in his new role as the chairman of the Australian Supercars series yet was spotted embracing, among others, Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley on Thursday. Needless to say, any welcome was not so warm at Mercedes.
Since that bungling of the safety car procedure, which resulted in Verstappen winning his first World Championship and Lewis Hamilton missing out on a record-breaking eighth crown, F1 has found itself in a wrangle.
Chaotic Australian Grand Prix reveals dilemma at the heart of F1’s future
F1 news: Lewis Hamilton raised alarm as fans entered track at Australian Grand Prix
10:23 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton raised the alarm towards the end of the Australian Grand Prix as some fans came inside the fence perimeter before the race had ended.
A hectic and entertaining grand prix, won by Max Verstappen, saw an F1 record of three red flags thrown and carnage ensue at the end of the race, with fans climbing the perimeter fencing and a group making their way inside the fence too.
Hamilton, who finished second, made the point to his race engineer Peter Bonnington: “There’s people on the track, man, some fans have got on.”
