LIVE: 'All the f***ing' time' — Star fumes over F1 rival; Piastri's ...

Ferrari’s hopes of taking pole position for the Australian Grand Prix remain in good health after Charles Leclerc posted the fastest time in Saturday’s final practice session at Albert Park.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen went to the top of the time sheet at the chequered flag, only for Leclerc to pip him seconds later with a 1:16.714 — just 0.020 seconds quicker than the Dutchman.

The top-three was split by less than one-tenth of a second, however, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz just 0.077 seconds behind Leclerc.

Got a question? Join our Live Chat with Fox Sports’ Jacob Polychronis at Albert Park ahead of qualifying (4pm AEDT)!

Follow Saturday at the Australian Grand Prix in our live blog below!

PADDOCK TALK: ‘Should never happen’: Inside Aus GP’s biggest shock … and guilt star must live with

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The entire top-eight was bunched with less than four-tenths of a second splitting Leclerc to Oscar Piastri.

Mercedes showed a drastic improvement with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in fourth and fifth, followed by Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez and Australian Piastri.

Piastri was once again faster than McLaren teammate Lando Norris, and briefly set the fastest session time in sector 1, to which he responded on team radio: “It’s amazing what happens when you stop being an idiot at Turn 1.”

Elsewhere, fears remain over the pace of Daniel Ricciardo, whose 1:17.963 was the second-slowest time of P3 — and about three-tenths slower than RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

Earlier, Leclerc was left fuming over an Aston Martin blocking one of his laps at the final turn.

He said over team radio: “One thing that’s certain is that you get an Aston Martin at one pound in the middle (of the lap), all the f***ing time.”

Also fuming over team radio was Russell, who blew up at his own team for not sending him out with enough to space to teammate Hamilton.

“Guys I always find Lewis at f***ing points in the track, every time,” he said.

HOW TO WATCH

The entire Australian Grand Prix, including every practice, qualifying and race, can be watched live and ad-break free on Foxtel.

Kayo Sports subscribers can also watch every practice, qualifying session and race of the F1 live in 4K for the first time.

F1, F2, F3 SCHEDULE (AEDT)

Saturday, March 23

11.15am – 12pm: Formula 3 Sprint Race

12.30pm-1.30pm: F1 Practice 3

2.15pm – 3.05pm: Formula 2 Sprint Race

4pm-5pm: F1 Qualifying

SUPERCARS SCHEDULE

Saturday March 23

9am-9.15: Race 5 Qualifying

9.25am-9.40: Race 6 Qualifying

5.35pm-6.10pm: Race 5 (15 laps)

Watch the FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX LIVE in 4K and ad-break free during racing, Sunday 3pm AEDT. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

LIVE BLOG

Follow all the action in our live blog below! If you can’t see the blog, click here.

LIVE CHAT

Add your questions for Fox Sports’ Jacob Polychronis in the Albert Park paddock!

PREVIEW

The day started with the heat on Daniel Ricciardo kicking up another notch with the latest warning from Red Bull motorsport supremo Helmut Marko.

Ricciardo has made a slow start to the season at Visa Cash App RB, while his teammate Yuki Tsunoda has shown quicker underlying pace than the Australian, particularly in qualifying.

While the season is only two races old, the pressure on Ricciardo has already ramped up given his lofty ambitions of making it back to a Red Bull seat.

Red Bull’s senior adviser Helmut Marko already made it clear he wasn’t impressed before this race weekend, saying Ricciardo needs to “come up with something soon”.

Now, speaking to Sky Germany ahead of Saturday’s qualifying at Albert Park, Marko doubled down on his comments, and offered a more unsettling warning.

“There’s a lot at stake for (Tsunoda and Ricciardo). Both might be hoping for a seat at Red Bull, and one should be well ahead of the other,” Marko is quoted as saying by motorsport.com.

“So far Ricciardo is a bit behind.

“But let’s put it this way: Tsunoda’s qualifying speed is okay. But in the race, both are too slow.”

Marko added that he believed earning a point was possible for Tsunoda and Ricciardo at each of the first two races, but neither has finished higher than 13th.

“It’s very difficult to score points behind the top five and, when you have an opportunity, you can’t afford to make mistakes. You have to test the decisions in the absolute right order,” he said.

What should also concern Ricciardo is Marko’s change in tune around Red Bull incumbent Sergio Perez, who has shown signs of improvement in 2024.

While still comfortably slower than his world champion teammate Max Verstappen, the Mexican has been relatively untroubled in finishing second in both races.

“Sergio is in a very good position at the moment,” Marko said. “He has delivered two very good races and he’s second in the championship. The question of who should replace Perez doesn’t really arise.

“But it’s about the future. Perez is no longer the youngest, nor is Ricciardo.

“And if you then take other aspects into account, another driver could certainly be included in this process.”

Ricciardo was slower than Tsunoda in both of Friday’s practice sessions in Melbourne and will be hoping that overnight changes can unlock his potential for the rest of the weekend.

Cars will be back on track for practice three at 12.30pm (AEDT).

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