Ten of the best pictures which tell the story of the 2016 Australian Grand Prix weekend.
Daniel Ricciardo
Red Bull might have liked to see more of the rain which fell on Friday. But even in dry conditions Daniel Ricciardo reached the eight-car Q3 shoot-out and in the race brought his RB12 home an encouraging fourth.
Felipe Massa
Felipe Massa was one of several drivers to get caught out by the slippery conditions on Friday.
Nico Rosberg
To no great surprise the elimination qualifying system used for the first time on Saturday was widely panned and it is expected to be dropped before the next race. Although it left a dearth of action at the end of each phase of qualifying, the opening minutes were frantic. Nico Rosberg slipped up early in Q1, but was able to make it through with his next run.
Start
After the low of Saturday, Sunday’s race got off to a high as the fast-starting Ferraris stunned the two Mercedes drivers.
Pascal Wehrlein
Further back newcomer Pascal Wehrlein also made a rapid getaway in his Manor. He ran 14th throughout the opening laps.
Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg
Sebastian Vettel kept his lead after the first round of pit stops but he had Rosberg in pursuit.
Fernando Alonso
A shocking crash involving Fernando Alonso and Esteban Gutierrez changed the complexion of the race – and left Alonso grateful to escape unharmed.
Carlos Sainz Jnr, Jolyon Palmer and Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen was furious after Toro Rosso’s pit calls left him chasing his team mate. Sainz was warned he would have to let Verstappen past if he didn’t get a move on – and duly made a well-timed pass on Jolyon Pamer. Verstappen followed him by but continue to bitterly complain to his team about their tactics,
Nico Rosberg
Rosberg clinched his second Australian Grand Prix victory.
Gene Haas and Romain Grosjean
There was joy for F1’s newest team Haas on their debut. Romain Grosjean was yet to pit when the race was stopped for his team mate’s accident and was able to make his mandatory tyre change during the hiatus. That done he held off a string of rivals to give Haas a remarkable sixth place.
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Sumedh
22nd March 2016, 14:52
I would love to see Haas seek a podium somehow.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
22nd March 2016, 15:35
Funny to see Grosjean so happy so quickly. I have to eat my words, I thought his move to Haas was as wrong as Timo Glock’s move to Virgin.
But when you realize he scored his second best result in more than 2 years (his podium at Belgium last year being his best) you realize how awful Lotus has been after 2013 and what a huge mountain Renault has to climb. At this point, Haas has it easier.
Mulsanne (@mulsanne)
22nd March 2016, 17:31
I personally consider Albert park GP to be an outlier, so I would wait till Spa/Monza to evaluate Haas.. That being said, I would be happy to be proved wrong.. We need new teams in f1
Aqib (@aqibqadeer)
22nd March 2016, 21:15
spa/monza arent really a true indicator of performance i think barcelona will reveal the ‘true’ order
Duncan Snowden
22nd March 2016, 18:15
I have to admit that Red Bull livery really works on track – that’s a great photo there – and the Haas looks nicer on TV than I expected too. The Renault not so much, though. It actually seems end up looking a bit like McLaren’s orange testing livery of a few years back – which, in its turn, often appeared quite yellow – much of the time. (Compare the shot of it in the background of the start above with the more obviously yellow one of Palmer between the two STRs, and tell me the former doesn’t remind you of the linked photo of the MP4-13.) Very strange. It does give some idea of how good an orange McLaren would be, mind you.
But what were Vettel and Raikonnen doing going round in a couple of Winfield Williams FW20s? (Seriously, I thought the new livery was okay up till now, but my hindbrain kept shouting “Villeneuve!” when I saw them during the race. :) )
Mike (@grippgoat)
22nd March 2016, 20:45
Every time I see a shot of the Haas from the front, my brain registers it as an older McLaren. It’s the silver with red-tipped nose.
SauberS1 (@saubers1)
22nd March 2016, 23:15
Fantastic pictures!
Hlono (@hlono51)
23rd March 2016, 11:37
remind me of this http://ww2.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/1896-1.jpg