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The 2019 F1 season launches in Melbourne

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MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Aerial view of the Federation Square event in

F1 2019 is go! Ahead of Sunday’s Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix, the new championship year was officially kicked off at F1's inaugural Season Launch Event in Federation Square in the vibrant heart of Melbourne.

With all 20 drivers and their respective team principals there to lend a hand, thousands of F1 fans turned out at the free event in downtown Melbourne to help get the year off with a bang.

"I wasn't expecting to see so many people here," said a shocked Lewis Hamilton on stage, with the Briton now set to begin the defence of his 2018 crown and go after his sixth title in 2019. "This turn out means it's probably going to be a good weekend!"

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F1 2019 kicks off with Season Launch event in Melbourne

The man expected to prevent Hamilton from taking that sixth title is Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel – and speaking to his old Red Bull team mate Mark Webber, who co-hosted the Season Launch Event, Vettel said Ferrari were looking to 'turn the page' on a sometimes-frustrating 2018 this season.

"For sure it’s a new challenge," said Vettel. "But I think for the whole team, we try to obviously turn the page. We had our weaknesses last year here and there and we obviously try to fix those and do much better this year. So far, the spirit is right, the team is on track, the car feels good so let's see how we start the year."

Check out photos from the first ever F1 Season Launch Event in the gallery below.

MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team, Guenther Steiner, Team Principal, Haas F1 and Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team at the Federation Square event during the Australian GP at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2019 in Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Australia. (Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images)
MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: George Russell, Williams, Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal, Williams Racing and Robert Kubica, Williams Racing at the Federation Square event during the Australian GP at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2019 in Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Australia. (Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images)
MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Franz Tost, Team Principal, Toro Rosso and Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso at the Federation Square event during the Australian GP at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2019 in Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Australia. (Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images)
MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Fans at the Federation Square event during the Australian GP at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2019 in Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Australia. (Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images)
MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Zak Brown, McLaren Executive Director, Carlos Sainz Jr, McLaren and Lando Norris, McLaren at the Federation Square event during the Australian GP at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2019 in Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Australia. (Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images)
MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Mario Isola, Racing Manager, Pirelli Motorsport, and Ross Brawn, Managing Director of Motorsports, FOM at the Federation Square event during the Australian GP at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2019 in Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Australia. (Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images)
MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Fans at the Federation Square event during the Australian GP at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2019 in Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Australia. (Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images)

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MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team, Guenther Steiner, Team Principal, Haas F1 and Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team at the Federation Square event during the Australian GP at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2019 in Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Australia. (Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images)
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