Max Verstappen came in fourth fastest at the first free practice in the run-up to the Australian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton was the fastest in his Mercedes on the 5,303 meter long Albert Park Street Circuit. Sebastian Vettel followed in his Ferrari in second, followed by his team mate Charles Leclerc who finished third.
Everyone was looking forward to this for a long time, but after the sudden passing of Charlie Whiting, the FIA-Race Director, this Formula 1-campaign started off on a down. Kimi Raikkonen, driving for the Alfa Romeo-team this season, is the first driver to make it to the track when the lights turn green for the first time in 2019.