Verstappen retired for the second time in three races (car issues), while Mercedes turned in a third- and fourth-place performance.
MELBOURNE, Australia—Charles Leclerc endured no opposition Sunday afternoon at Albert Park. The Monegasque took a 20-second victory over Red Bull’s Sergio Perez at the Australian Grand Prix with Mercedes George Russell taking third for his first podium of the season.
Leclerc was overjoyed but he knows the season is still young. “We are only at the third race, so it is difficult to think about the championship,” he said. “But we have a very strong car, a very reliable car too.”
Leclerc maintained the lead over Max Verstappen right from the start of the race throughout two virtual and regular safety car periods, even following Verstappen’s attempt to pass him following the second restart.
“Today was in general a bad day,” Verstappen said. “It looked like an easy P2 anyway and I knew I could not fight Charles (Leclerc) so there was no point to try and put pressure on him. But we didn’t even finish the race, so it is pretty frustrating and unacceptable.”
While Leclerc was fantastic, the second Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz Jr., never had a chance, spinning out into the gravel on lap two. Meanwhile. on lap 34 Sebastian Vettel spun his Aston Martin into the wall near turn three and disengaged his front wing, throwing debris all over this certain sector.
Lewis Hamilton had a fourth-place finish and that outcome, coupled with Russell’s third-place finish. enabled Mercedes to take the lead in the Constructor’s Championship. McLaren had a fine afternoon for the first time this season by placing Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo fifth and sixth, respectively.
The next race will take place in two weeks near the Ferrari factory as Imola hosts the Emilio Romagna Grand Prix for the second year in a row. Ferrari fans will be out in force, especially now that Leclerc holds a 34-point lead in the Drivers Championship. The Tifosi have something to cheer about.
