Verstappen not present at press conference: Perez and Ricciardo will be

Max Verstappen will not take part in the pre-weekend press conference at the Albert Park Street Circuit on Thursday, Formula 1's traditional media day. His teammate at Red Bull, Sergio Perez, will, however, take a seat at the press conference.

Both Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will not present at the press conference in Melbourne. The press conference with the drivers will be held at 13:30 local time (2:30 GMT / 3:30 CET) on Thursday.

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari are also absent. It remains to be seen at all whether Sainz will be in action this weekend. The Spaniard suffered appendicitis and had to have a surgery. He is already in Melbourne, but there is no confirmation yet whether he will race this weekend.

Traditionally, on Friday it is the turn of the Formula 1 team principal after the first practice session of the weekend. No Christian Horner, and no Toto Wolff, but Frederic Vasseur will be present at the press conference after the first free practice session. This press conference will take place at 14:30 local time on Friday (3:30 GMT / 4:30 CET. Stay tuned here at GPblog for the latest news from the press conferences.