2024 F1 Australian Grand Prix - As it happened

He makes the most of the VSC to rejoin in fifth.

Hamilton has pulled to the side of the track in his Mercedes.

Norris and Perez come into the pit lane for fresh rubber.

New hards for both derivers as they rejoin in fifth and tenth respectively. 

He was 1.4s slower than Sainz on the last lap while running in third. 

Sainz, Norris, Perez, Alonso, Leclerc, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Rissell and Stroll.

He sets the fastest lap of the race to pull 4.7s clear of Norris in second.

Perez is running in third, 1.3s behind Norris.

A great race from Sainz so far, who is 2.2s clear of Norris in the front of the field.

Verstappen is out of the race.

What an opportunity for Ferrari and McLaren.

Verstappen is into the pit lane and looks to be out of the race.

Verstappen going slow. It looks like he's out of the race.

"Fu** the car is loose!"

He's currently 0.7s behind Sainz at the front of the field. 

"I just lost the car, really weird."

Well that wasn't expected.

Sainz takes the lead off Verstappen with the use of DRS into Turn 9. Brilliant. 

Verstappen leads 1 from Sainz, Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Russell, Perez, Stroll, Tsunoda and Hamilton.

The third round of the 2024 F1 season in Melbourne is underway.

Can Verstappen make it 10 wins in a row? 

Verstappen leads the pack away for the formation lap.

Verstappen's thoughts ahead of the race: "They [Ferrari] seem very quick also in the long run. So a bit of a question mark, but I guess that makes it very exciting."

As we enter the final 15 minutes, it's time for the Australian national anthem.

All 20 drivers have taken to the front of the grid. 

Verstappen, Sainz, Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Perez, Russell, Tsunoda, Stroll, Alonso, Hamilton, Albon, Bottas, Magnussen, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Ricciardo.

Pit lane: Zhou