Max Verstappen (Red Bull) won his second Grand Prix of the season, in three races. The Batavian beat Lewis Hamilton (2nd) and Fernando Alonso (3rd).
The Australian Grand Prix smiled for the first time for Max Verstappen. On the Albert Park circuit, the reigning double world champion had a complicated start to the race and some scares at the end of the race.
Author of pole position, the Dutchman was passed from the first corner by George Russell (Mercedes), then a few hectometres later by Lewis Hamilton. Behind them, Charles Leclerc made a mistake in contact with Lance Stroll (Aston Martin). All in less than 30 seconds.
On the 7th lap, Alexander Albon (then 6th with his Williams) started alone at fault. George Russell then switched to hard tires and emerged 7th from the pits. A strategy of Mercedes which turned to the flop a few seconds later, when the race was interrupted to evacuate Albon’s car and clean the track. Unlucky, Russell was then forced to retire on lap 18, engine on fire,
Eventful end of race
If Lewis Hamilton had the best second start, Max Verstappen overtook him two laps later, flying to his 37th victory. And this despite a missed braking on the 48th lap and a race restarted for …. one lap, following the loss of a tire by Kevin Magnussen (Haas), on the 55th lap.
This final lap ended under… red flag, following the accidents of Fernando Alonso and the two Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. This final lap not having been completed, the classification recorded in the previous lap was again taken into account, allowing Fernando Alonso to finish on the podium (3rd), behind Lewis Hamilton (2nd). The last lap was finally contested under Safety Car.
/ATS