The Australian Grand Prix has always been one of the highly-anticipated races on the Formula One calendar and the 2023 edition did not disappoint. Here’s what happened in today’s chaotic red-flagged Australian Grand Prix that saw 11 championships between the podium finishers.
Max Verstappen has won the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, returning Red Bull to the first step on the podium for the first time since 2011.
Verstappen started on pole with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton right behind him in P2 and P3 respectively, with both silver arrows overtaking the Dutchman in the first sector of lap 1.
It wasn't long before chaos ensued, and the first safety car of the race was deployed due to Charles Leclerc's off at turn 3, starting what would be a disappointing Grand Prix for the
Scuderia.
The race looked very promising for Mercedes as they were leading 1-2 in the beginning stages, keeping Verstappen at bay. Russell then pitted under a safety car brought on by Alex Albon’s crash on lap 7, but a red flag a pal later meant that he lost out on his advantage, dropping him down to 7th. At that point, his teammate Lewis Hamilton inherited the race lead and managed to keep his position during the action-packed, second standing start. Nonetheless, the DRS being enabled 2 laps later, left Hamilton a sitting duck against the reigning champion Max Verstappen.
Meanwhile, Russell tried to work his way back to the front of the grid, but his efforts were halted by a mechanical retirement bringing his race to an early end.
With 4 laps to go, Kevin Magnussen drove wide into a wall at the exit of turn 2 bringing out the second red flag of the race.
A third standing start on the penultimate lap brought mayhem on track as Fernando Alonso, who was running in third, was spun by his fellow Spaniard Sainz, the two Alpines took each other out, and De Vries got stuck in the gravel along with William’s Logan Sergeant.
As the drivers didn’t make it through the first sector the order was reinstated to one lap prior, giving Alonso his podium position back.
Sainz was penalised for causing the collision, putting him outside of points entirely.
The otherwise thrilling Australian Grand Prix ended in a very anticlimactic manner as the remaining 12 cars finished the ultimate lap behind a safety car.
Max Verstappen took the win, followed by the 7-time champion Lewis Hamilton in second and Fernando Alonso securing his third podium of the season in third.
McLaren profited from the misfortune of others and the reshuffling caused by red flags, securing a much-needed points finish for both of their drivers.
Overall, the 2023 season has been thrilling despite Red Bull's dominance and we now eagerly wait for the next round of the Formula One World Championship to see if Verstappen and Red Bull can continue their winning streak or if they can be challenged for wins by Mercedes or perhaps the Aston Martin.
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