• World champion concerned about speed of overtaking

• Lewis Hamilton backs changes after Australian GP

Lando Norris has warned that Formula One is in danger of having a major accident that could injure fans as well as drivers after the season’s first race in Melbourne. The world champion was one of many drivers expressing discontent at the sport’s new direction over the weekend, but other senior figures in F1 have called for time to adapt to the new rules.

Norris finished fifth for McLaren at the Australian Grand Prix, which was won by the Mercedes driver George Russell. F1 has adopted complex regu­lations that require management of electrical energy. That includes the use of an overtake mode, allowing cars to apply extra power during a lap against rivals that may be slowing as they recharge their battery.

• Russell and Antonelli secure Mercedes one-two

• Leclerc and Hamilton third and fourth for Scuderia

Formula One’s brave new world at least opened in Melbourne with something of a bang, doubtless to the relief of many who had considered its bold new era was destined for a whimper.

Yet the verdict from Albert Park was that the sport has work to do yet, if it is to head off the distinctly troublesome spectacle of some of F1’s leading protagonists publicly proclaiming they are rather unhappy with its new direction.

• Briton is one of three champions scathing of new regulations

• Overhaul had made the cars go from ‘best to worst’ in a season

Three world champions – Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris – have delivered a damning verdict on Formula One’s regulations overhaul after qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix.

Norris, McLaren’s defending champion, was scathing of the changes, saying that driving the car “sucks” and they were probably the “worst” ever made, while Hamilton criticised the new engine and chassis rules as “completely against” F1’s principles.

• British driver qualifies fastest with 1min 18.518sec lap in Melbourne

• Lando Norris sixth after running over Mercedes cooling fan

George Russell claimed pole position for the Australian Grand Prix, the opening race of the new Formula One season, with an ominously dominant run for Mercedes. Russell and teammate Kimi Antonelli locked out the front row with their nearest competitor Isack Hadjar in the Red Bull almost eight-tenths of a second behind the pole time in third place.

The British driver and Mercedes were in a class of their own at the front of the field but there was a disastrous opening for four-time world champion Max Verstappen who crashed out before he had even set a timed lap.