Williams’ Alex Albon scored a high-quality fifth for the storied workforce. The preseason vibes for Williams have been right—after a number of years of being certainly one of—if not the—slowest, it now appears to be main the midfield. And Racing Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda demonstrated that he in all probability ought to have been promoted to the Purple Bull workforce with a high-quality fifth place in qualifying that sadly didn’t translate to factors within the race.

The Sauber workforce, which turns into Audi subsequent 12 months, appeared dreadful in Bahrain however arrived in Ozwith some new bodywork, together with a revised entrance wing. That helped Nico Hulkenberg end seventh, scoring extra factors within the course of than the Swiss-based workforce managed throughout all 24 races final 12 months.

Higher luck in China

It was a a lot tougher day for some, together with a lot of the rookies. Racing Bull’s new driver, Isack Hadjar, was caught out on the formation lap by differing grip circumstances between the asphalt and painted strains on what are public roads for a lot of the 12 months. Cleansing up the crash delayed the beginning by quarter-hour as a distraught Hadjar made his approach again to the pits to observe the race unfold with out him. After he barely misplaced out on the F2 title on the finish of final 12 months when his automotive stalled initially, one hopes he can put his final couple of races behind him.

Alpine’s Jack Doohan, Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto (who beat Hadjar to the F2 championship final 12 months), and Purple Bull’s Liam Lawson (who form of nonetheless counts as a rookie) additionally every ended their days prematurely after crashing out, however so too did former world champion Fernando Alonso and final 12 months’s race winner Carlos Sainz. That two such skilled drivers additionally received caught out ought to carry some consolation to the 4 kids.

It was additionally a tough begin to Lewis Hamilton’s tenure at Ferrari. The seven-time world champion and his new race engineer have been creating their working relationship in actual time, and Hamilton bristled on the fixed recommendations from the pit wall. It was an underwhelming day basically for Ferrari, which solely completed eighth (Leclerc) and tenth (Hamilton).

Isack Hadjar crashed out of the Australian Grand Prix earlier than it even occurred.

Kym Illman/Getty Photographs

Isack Hadjar crashed out of the Australian Grand Prix earlier than it even occurred.

Kym Illman/Getty Photographs

Carlos Sainz’s debut for Williams didn’t go easily, as he ended within the wall, too.

Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Photographs

Carlos Sainz’s debut for Williams didn’t go easily, as he ended within the wall, too.

Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Photographs

Jack Doohan was equally caught out by the slippery monitor.

James Sutton – System 1/System 1 by way of Getty Photographs

Jack Doohan was equally caught out by the slippery monitor.

James Sutton – System 1/System 1 by way of Getty Photographs

Carlos Sainz’s debut for Williams didn’t go easily, as he ended within the wall, too.

Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Photographs

Jack Doohan was equally caught out by the slippery monitor.

James Sutton – System 1/System 1 by way of Getty Photographs

Even the mighty Fernando Alonso was in bother in Melbourne.

Clive Mason/Getty Photographs

Liam Lawson didn’t do a lot to dispel the concept Yuki Tsunoda ought to have been promoted to Purple Bull.

James Sutton – System 1/System 1 by way of Getty Photographs

The security automotive received fairly a number of laps on this weekend.

Clive Mason/Getty Photographs

Lewis says he and the workforce have work to do after this weekend.

Mario Renzi – System 1/System 1 by way of Getty Photographs

This lot was busy.

Clive Mason/Getty Photographs

A way more assured Lando Norris.

Clive Rose/Getty Photographs

The game returns subsequent weekend in China.