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If you wish to object to the use of your data in this way, please tick here. ‘We’ includes The Week and other Dennis Group brands as detailed here<doc-sep>The Australian GP: When's it on and full Sky Sports F1 TV times 5:14 Head of Sky Sports F1 Scott Young gives Craig Slater a run down on what is new for Sky Sports customers and F1 fans this season Head of Sky Sports F1 Scott Young gives Craig Slater a run down on what is new for Sky Sports customers and F1 fans this season Formula 1 2019 starts here! Sky Sports F1 will be the home of live and exclusive Formula 1 in 2019, broadcasting all 21 races - including every practice, qualifying and grand prix. And it all starts with the Australian GP this weekend. The key times are: * The race starts at 5.10am UK time on Sunday, March 17, simulcast on Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky One. * Full re-runs at 8am and 11.35am on Sky Sports F1 Find out more about Sky Sports F1 F1 2019: All the key details and dates A sad and sombre start to #F12019 following the passing of Race Director Charlie Whiting. Here are the reflections of #SkyF1's Martin Brundle and Simon Lazenby... Schedule: https://t.co/rRhpnDhM5L pic.twitter.com/NT9vtxVM1Q — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) March 14, 2019 How to watch F1 2019 with Sky Sports F1 To mark Sky Sports F1 becoming the home of live and exclusive F1, you can get our best-ever offer ahead of the upcoming 2019 season. New and existing customers can now watch every practice, qualifying and race live on the Sky Sports F1 channel for just £10 extra a month (usually £18 a month) with a price guaranteed for two years. Click here to get the offer and here to find answers to the essential FAQs. Sky F1 subscribers will also be able to tune in to watch the channel's coverage on Sky Go while every track session will also be available to watch on the Sky Sports App via Race Control. iOS users: Download the Sky Sports app from the App Store Android users: Download the Sky Sports app from the Play Store Want to catch-up? Highlights and the best of Sky F1 will also be published On Demand. And for non-subscribers, Sky Sports F1 is accessible through a NOW TV pass. Sky Sports F1's Australian GP schedule Sunday, March 17 5.10am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX LIVE - Simulcast on Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky One. 7am: Australian GP Paddock Live - Simulcast on Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky One. 8am: Full race replay Australian GP - Simulcast on Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky One. 11.35am: Full race replay Australian GP - Simulcast on Sky Sports F1 and Sky One. Sky Sports F1 is the home of live and exclusive F1 - and new and existing customers in the UK can now get the channel for just £10 extra a month, our best-ever offer. Find out more here to watch the 2019 season live<doc-sep>Damon Hill has defended Daniel Ricciardo after his former Red Bull boss suggested the Aussie was ‘running from a fight’ in leaving the team to driver for Renault. Christian Horner, team principal at RBR made the comment in a documentary filmed during the 2018 season during which Ricciardo decided that after 10 years with the team, it was time for a change. Speculation around in-team fighting between the Aussie and former teammate Max Verstappen has been rife, however, Hill is adamant, Ricciardo has done what’s right for him. “That’s what he would say, Christian fights for his team if he can say something to undermine the opposition he will do that.”Hill said at the season launch in Melbourne. “He isn’t running from a fight at all. The relationship in RedBull between drivers, it’s clear Daniel was not their prime interest. Their prime interested shifted at some point to Verstappen. “Daniel would have thought ‘I need a team that thinks I am the front runner’.” No Australian has stood on the podium at Albert Park - Ricciardo coming agonisingly close in 2014 and 2018. FOLLOW QUALIFYING LIVE And while Renault may be considered “best of the rest” Ricciardo is confident his new outfit can hold off their rivals and close the gap on Formula 1’s big three in 2019. Renault last year finished fourth in the F1 constructors’ championship behind frontrunners Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull, which Ricciardo left in the off- season after a five-year stint. However, they were under pressure last year from rivals Haas, McLaren and Racing Point in a congested midfield. Ricciardo tried to ease concerns ahead of the season opener in Melbourne, saying Renault would adopt a different approach this season which he believed would keep them “ahead of the curve”. “I think the philosophy this year will be quite different as far as the upgrades we get,” Ricciardo said. “I think the plan and the structuring is going to change, and their philosophy on what to bring and when to bring it. I believe that is going to change. “I will be part of that and trust that process, and hope we are staying ahead of the curve. WATCH IT ON KAYO: Stream every practice, qualifying session and F1 race live SCHEDULE THURSDAY March 14: Australian GT championship, Porsche Carrera Cup FRIDAY, MARCH 15: 12pm F1 first practice session 4pm second practice session Also Supercars 400, Royal Australian Navy helicopter display, two-seater demonstration laps SATURDAY, MARCH 16: 2pm F1 third practice session 5pm Qualifying Also, Supercars 400 final race, Ferrari and Lamborghini parades, Royal Australian Air Force jet display SUNDAY, MARCH 17: 2:15pm F1 drivers’ introduction 4:10pm RACE TICKETS Available here WHO DRIVES FOR WHICH TEAM? Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Valterri Bottas (FIN) Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel (GER) Charles Leclerc (MCO) Red Bull Racing: Max Verstappen (NED) Pierre Gasly (FRA) Renault: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Nico Hulkenberg (GER) McLaren: Carlos Sainz (ESP) Lando Norris (GBR) Williams: Robert Kubica (POL) George Russell (GBR) Haas: Romain Grosjean (FRA) Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Toro Rosso: Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Alexander Albon (THA) Sauber: Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) Racing Point: Sergio Perez (MEX) Lance Stroll (CAN) HOW TO WATCH THURSDAY: 1.20pm-3.40pm — Fox Sports 506 / Kayo FRIDAY: 11.30pm-7pm — 10 Bold / Fox Sports 506 / Kayo SATURDAY: 11am-7.30pm — Ten / TenHD / Fox Sports 506 / Kayo SUNDAY: Noon-7.30pm — Ten/TenHD / Fox Sports 506 / Kayo WATCH IT ON KAYO: Stream every practice, qualifying session and F1 race live WHAT’S NEW FOR 2019? Car’s have a new front wing — wider, higher and much more simple to allow drivers a closer chase and it will assist overtaking. New barge boards — smaller and in a new position in a bid to make them less aerodynamically disruptive New rear wing — higher and wider and like the changes to the front this will help with closer racing it also increases DRS opening and will boost the power by up to 25% New brake ducts — reducing downforce reduction Tyre colours — Pirelli have reduced this to three this season in a bid to help fans follow team strategy Fuel allowance — increased by 5kg to 110kg, drivers will no longer have as much concern about conserving fuel Driver and car weight — will no be measured separately to ensure heavier drivers are no longer disadvantaged Bonus point — Formula 1 will reintroduce a bonus point for the fastest lap in each Grand Prix, only handed out if the driver is classified in the top 10 CALENDAR 17 March 2019 Melbourne Australia 31 March 2019 Sakhir Bahrain 14 April 2019 Shanghai China 28 April 2019 Baku Azerbaijan 12 May 2019 Barcelona Spain 26 May 2019 Monaco Monaco 9 June 2019 Montreal Canada 23 June 2019 Le Castellet France 30 June 2019 Spielberg Austria 14 July 2019 Silverstone Great Britain 28 July 2019 Hockenheim Germany 4 August 2019 Budapest Hungary 1 September 2019 Spa-Francorchamps Belgium 8 September 2019 Monza Italy 22 September 2019 Singapore Singapore 29 September 2019 Sochi Russia 13 October 2019 Suzuka Japan 27 October 2019 Mexico City Mexico 3 November 2019 Austin USA 17 November 2019 Sao Paulo Brazil 1 December 2019Yas Marina Abu Dhabi<doc-sep>
Quinn Rooney/Getty Images Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets in both practice sessions ahead of the 2019 Australian Formula One Grand Prix on Friday. The Mercedes driver finished narrowly ahead of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel in the first session of the new season at Albert Park, with the pair split by just 0.038 seconds. In the second, Hamilton's closest rival was team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who was 0.048 seconds behind the Englishman's time of 1:22.600. FP1 Recap Here's the classification from the first free practice session in Melbourne: Bottas was the first driver to set a time, and he led proceedings at the halfway point. The second half of the session went less well for the Finn, as he spun in sector three and found his time beaten by Hamilton, Ferrari duo Vettel and Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen. He wasn't the only one to go for a spin, as rookie Alexander Albon—in his first F1 practice session—took a trip into the barriers and ended his session prematurely: Video Play Button Videos you might like Meanwhile, Renault's Nico Hulkenberg managed to complete just 11 laps, having had to spend more than an hour in the pits dealing with electrical issues following his installation lap. Despite that, he managed to set the 10th quickest time. FP2 Recap Here's the classification from FP2: Bottas once again reached the halfway stage with the quickest time, but on this occasion only his team-mate was able to go quicker in the closing period. At Renault, this time it was Daniel Ricciardo's turn to spend some time in the pits, but he managed to complete 31 laps. Vettel managed 35 in his Ferrari, but his complaints to his team about an unknown issue and a trip to the garage midway through the session offer some insight as to why he wasn't able to challenge Hamilton on the timesheet. As for Albon, after an eventful first session, he continued to struggle a little at Albert Park: He'll have been relieved that he was far from the only driver to go for a spin, though, as Kimi Raikkonen and Leclerc also spent time on the grass. While the first session hinted Ferrari could give Mercedes a close run this season, the second was a reminder that it's early days and there are issues still to resolve. Saturday's final practice and qualifying will give us a better idea of what to expect from the race on Sunday.