The new Formula One season will begin with the sport in a state of mourning following the sudden death of race director Charlie Whiting on the eve of the Australian Grand Prix.
The 66-year-old suffered a pulmonary embolism in Melbourne where he was due to officiate the curtain-raiser of the new season.
FIA president Jean Todt led the tributes, saying: "It is with immense sadness that I learned of Charlie's sudden passing.
"I have known Charlie Whiting for many years and he has been a great Race Director, a central and inimitable figure in Formula One who embodied the ethics and spirit of this fantastic sport."
Whiting's death sets a sombre for the start of a new season in which Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel are set to renew their rivalry at the front of the grid.
Mercedes star Hamilton will be hungry for more success after clinching his fifth world championship title last season, while Vettel will be itching to return to the track and record back-to-back race wins Down Under.
Then there's the fiery Dutchman Max Verstappen, who has high hopes for a first world title with Red Bull.
Not forgetting the debuts of young British hopefuls Lando Norris and George Russell, who are set for another scrap after their absorbing battle in F2 last year.
Here, we look at what to expect when the lights go out for the very first time in 2019?
Scroll down for our comprehensive Australian Grand Prix preview...
Date and UK start time
The Australian Grand Prix weekend begins on Friday, March 15 with the first free practice session starting at 12pm (1am GMT).
The second practice session will take place at 4pm (5am GMT) on the same day, before the third and final practice session, which is scheduled for 2pm (3am GMT) on Saturday, March 16.
Qualifying is scheduled to begin in the evening at 5pm on the Saturday (6am GMT), with the race on Sunday, March 17 at 4.10pm (5.10am). These times are, however, provisional and could be subject to delay.
TV channel and live stream
UK viewers will no longer have the luxury of being able to choose between the two rights holders for the race in Australia.
Sky Sports subscribers will be able to tune in for every live race in the 2019 season, but the same does not apply to terrestrial viewers.
Channel 4 recently downgraded their rights package which means they can only show highlights of qualifying sessions and races, with only the British Grand Prix scheduled for live coverage in the 2019 season.
Sky Sports subscribers can watch the entire race weekend live on the Sky Sports F1 channel (channel 408). If you don’t have Sky Sports, you can watch with a NOW TV Sky Sports Pass, which gives you exactly the same coverage without having to sign up to a contract.
Betting tips via Betfair | UK users only | Subject to change
Race winner
- Sebastian Vettel: 2/1
- Lewis Hamilton: 2/1
- Max Verstappen: 9/1
- Daniel Ricciardo: 100/1
Click here to find the latest race odds and place a bet.
Tickets
Those interested in attending the race only have a short window to purchase tickets which guarantee entry for the race weekend.
At the time of writing, F1 fans can still purchase general admission tickets, which allow you to perch anywhere around the circuit and watch the action unfold for the entire weekend. These have been priced at €137 (£118).
However, grandstand and seats in the assorted stands are all sold out.
Hospitality tickets are still available for both qualifying and race days. Click the link here to access Formula One's official ticket website.
Prediction
Race winner: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
The Ferraris have been very quick in testing in Barcelona and, while it's often claimed Mercedes 'sandbag' the pre-season tests to disguise their true pace, Ferrari have experienced a lot of success in Melbourne recently. Vettel has won this race in each of the last two years and just seems to love racing around Albert Park. Lewis Hamilton will run him close but the German will be hoping to get his title challenge off to the best possible start in Australia with a win.
