Verstappen, Leclerc and the curious case of Mercedes as Australian GP returns

After a pulsating double header to start the new season, F1 speeds onto the Australian GP this weekend as Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc renew their thrilling rivalry while Mercedes look for an upturn in form.

Returning to the calendar for the first time since 2019, the Australian GP from Melbourne's Albert Park is always a much-loved event and all the action from Round Three is live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend.

A trip Down Under means earlier starts, with qualifying live on Saturday from 7am and the race live on Sunday from 6am.

The weekend represents another test for the drivers in these all-new cars, and there are certainly storylines aplenty.

Two races into the 2022 campaign and a new era of Formula 1 and it is already abundantly clear; it is Ferrari and Red Bull who have started with the fastest cars and their star drivers Leclerc and Verstappen appear primed to enjoy a fascinating season-long battle.

It's one race apiece for Leclerc and Verstappen so far, with each 24-year-old driver having outduelled the other for their well-earned victories in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

"We saw a fantastic battle in Bahrain and then Saudi Arabia took it to a whole new level," said Sky Sports F1's Karun Chandhok, with world champion Verstappen having passed Leclerc with four laps remaining.

"They're young drivers who have been rivals since go-kart days a decade ago, so it's fantastic to see them now at the top of Formula 1 fighting for the biggest crown."

The battles between Leclerc and Verstappen have been fierce, yet respectful - with both drivers giving the other space on the track and plenty of credit off it, a far cry from the intensity of Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton last year.

"They've clearly got a lot of respect for