Chaotic. This is the adjective that is needed to describe the epilogue of the Formula 1 (F1) Australian Grand Prix (GP), Sunday April 2, at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne. Two red flags – synonymous with stopping the race – in quick succession; two, then one lap, from the finish. And this question: what decision will the authorities make?
After a few minutes of hesitation, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) decided: a last start, the 4th of this GP, was therefore given and it was the reigning double world champion, Max Verstappen, who s is finally imposed.
The Dutch driver of Red Bull offers a second victory in three races, after winning in Bahrain at the start of the championship. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 2nd, and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), 3rd, completed the podium of an event, where only twelve cars crossed the line out of the twenty entered.
After two fifth places, Lewis Hamilton takes his first podium of the season; Fernando Alonso, he climbs on the box for the third time since the recovery, and signs the 101st podium of his career.
Another abandonment of Charles Leclerc
This Grand Prix will have lasted barely a few turns for the Monegasque Charles Leclerc. After a collision with Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), on the first lap, the Ferrari rider was forced to throw in the towel.
The reigning vice-world champion had already had to retire during the first Grand Prix of the year, in Bahrain, due to an engine problem. He has only finished one race out of the three already contested.
“It must not happen too often, it was a disaster between Bahrain, the penalty in Jeddah and now a DNF [“Did not finish”, “abandonment”]. It's certainly not the start of the season that I was hoping for, "reacted the interested party on Canal .
In Saudi Arabia, a fortnight ago, Charles Leclerc signed a modest 7th place. He started in 12th position, after being given a ten-place penalty for replacing an electronic component.
Ferrari had a nightmarish day with second driver Carlos Sainz penalized five seconds after causing Fernando Alonso to run off the track on the third start with two laps to go. The Spaniard tumbles from fourth to twelfth place: the Scuderia did not score any points this weekend.
Multiple interventions of the safety car
Accidents, collisions and "safety car" will have been so many keywords of this meeting at the antipodes. After Charles Leclerc, Thailand's Alexander Albon crashed on lap 7, causing the first red flag and the first ten-minute interruption of this race.
On lap 18, Briton George Russell had a problem with his engine and his car gradually caught fire. The Mercedes driver retired, having set the second fastest time in qualifying.
Things came to a head on lap 56, two laps before the finish: Dane Kevin Magnussen hit the wall and lost one of his tires earlier. Due to the debris on the track, another red flag, another ten-minute interruption.
Rebelote from the first corner of the recovery. After a first spin from Fernando Alonso, linked to contact with Carlos Sainz, the Alpines collided violently: several single-seaters found themselves in the gravel. Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon will remain in the pits. A hard blow, while the two drivers were in the points.
The last start of the race will be given behind the safety car. The last twelve single-seaters set off for a final loop. Under the blazing Melbourne sun, Max Verstappen crossed the line in slow motion, for the first victory of his career on the Albert Park circuit.
Following the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix, the Formula 1 World Championship will experience a four-week hiatus and will resume at the street circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan on April 30.
