Clear blue skies above the Albert Park circuit as the fans in attendance are treated to an air display.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Melbourne

It’s fair to say that there is a fair amount of mystification at what Pascal Wehrlein insists was his own decision not to race this weekend because he feels he is lacking race fitness. The German suffered a back injury in the Race of Champions but insists that it is now completely healed. Rather, he says, he felt he could not “race at my best performance level”. 

F1 history is littered with examples of drivers performing in extreme levels of adversity. Perhaps the most extreme example is Niki Lauda’s return from his fiery accident in 1976, but there are many more - including Nigel Mansell making his debut while sitting in a bath of fuel because of a leak in Austria in 1980; an ill Fernando Alonso racing in Malaysia in 2003 and telling the team during the race he would need a doctor at the end of it, and finishing on the podium; Mark Webber vomiting into his helmet at the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix. Wehrlein’s response to being confronted with this was: “Every situation is different.” 

Image source, Getty Images

I'll kick things off with Marco Apicella. Looked reasonably cool sitting on a wall, less so behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car. 

Races entered: 1. Distance covered: About 800m. He crashed out at the first corner of the 1993 Italian Grand Prix and was replaced for the next round.

Antonio Giovinazzi will be one of two rookies making their race debut this weekend - the other being Lance Stroll. 

Speaking of F1 debuts, what's the best and worst you remember? 

Let us know via  #bbcf1  or text in on  81111 

Image source, EPA

Qualifying gets under way at 06:00 GMT but first, though, a final hour of practice. Pretty routine stuff for most of the drivers but it's a particularly significant session for one person in the Sauber garage.

Pascal Wehrlein has ruled himself of this weekend's race, stating a lack of fitness and training following his pre-season crash at the Race of Champions will compromise his performance.

That means rookie Antonio Giovinazzi - who stepped in for Wehrlein in the first pre-season test - will take the wheel of Wehrlein's Sauber and make his Grand Prix debut.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Melbourne

Before pre-season testing, there were two schools of thought regarding the possible outcome of this year’s new rules. One was that the new cars would provide a competitive reset and allow Mercedes’ rivals to close up. The other was that give a set of new rules that make the cars more draggy to the best team with the best engine, and their advantage will only increase. 

After testing, it appeared as if the first was true; after Friday practice, not so much. Lewis Hamilton was in a league of his own, and although team-mate Valtteri Bottas was struggling, on race pace he, too, was well clear of the Ferraris. Is it the last three years all over again, after all? That’s the initial impression. 

Image source, Getty Images

This is the moon. It is on average around 238,855 miles away from earth. That's still closer than Lewis Hamilton's rivals appear to be to the Briton - if yesterday is anything to go by.

Hamilton was half a second quicker than anyone else as the pace Ferrari threatened to have during testing failed to materialise.

Was it a one off? Or a sign of things to come? 

Things should become clearer in today's qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix.

New season, new rules...  

Image source, Getty Images

... same Lewis Hamilton.