The new design limited the number of elements on the wing to a maximum of seven, while also limiting the teams to two deflectors to push air over the car. The biggest feature of the 2019 F1 regulations would be the front wings, with increased restrictions on how many winglets.
With no major circuit changes the interest instead laid in the entry list and changes to the teams over the winter, with a vast array of changes both to the rules and the driver line-up. The ever popular circuit around Albert Park Lake remained unchanged ahead of the visit in 2019, with sponsorship from Rolex funding the race. The 70th edition of the FIA Formula One World Championship would kick-off at what had become the traditional starting venue for the season, the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia. The official race weekend attendance was 324,000 people. Max Verstappen, who had started behind Vettel, managed to overtake the German for the final podium position. Bottas won by around 20 seconds, ahead of Hamilton, for a Mercedes one-two. Despite pitting early to cover off Sebastian Vettel, Hamilton was unable to match Bottas' pace. Hamilton took pole position, equalling Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher's number of eight Australian Grand Prix pole positions.Īt the start, Valtteri Bottas managed to jump ahead of Hamilton. However, the build-up to the race was marred by the sudden death of Race Director Charlie Whiting on the eve of practice. Lewis Hamilton started the season as the defending World Champion, while his team Mercedes were the defending Constructors Champions. The race was the 84th "Australian Grand Prix" to be staged, and the 998th Grand Prix held according to the F1 rulebook. The 2019 Australian Grand Prix, otherwise officially known as the LXXXIV Rolex Australian Grand Prix, was the opening round of the 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, on the 17 March 2019.