Formula One fans got the first glimpse of their drivers in action this morning and it was Lewis Hamilton who continued his 2017 form by recording the fastest lap in the first practice session.
The Brit is hoping to win his fifth world championship this season, which starts at the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.
But the teams were out in the sunshine Down Under getting used to their upgraded vehicles and the new halo which has been subject to much controversy.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas was only three-tenths of a second behind the pace-setter.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished third while Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen recorded the fourth best time.
Sebastian Vettel drove home fifth – but the German was only one second behind Hamilton.
Daniel Ricciardo made up the top six.
Drivers then practiced some starts from the grid before the first practice session was finished.
The second practice session takes place at 5am.
