Remember the days when the Australian Grand Prix was the season opener? Well, those days are gone and this year the race down under was number three in what is a jam-packed F1 season.
Taking place at the iconic Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, this year's Australian GP did not disappoint. Although, some drivers may beg to differ. So what went on? Keep on reading to find out!
Before the race had even began, the weekend itself already had it's fair share of drama. From spins, brushes against the wall, tyres, weather and wildlife; what else could Australia have in store for us? Well, a lot apparently.
To no surprise, Red Bull's Max Verstappen was on pole with the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton starting in 2nd and 3rd behind him. Verstappen's teammate, Sergio Perez, had a nightmare qualifying session after a lock up left him stuck in the gravel at turn three. It would be a pit lane start for the Mexican destroying all hopes of an all Red Bull front row start.
Race day was sunny, the beginning of Autumn. Eighteen cars were lined up on the grid, the final two in the pit lane. The all important five red lights came on and then it was lights out and away we go.
Verstappen has a decent start but so do both of the Mercedes drivers who manage to get past the Dutchman all before turn three. Further back, at the same corner, it's all over for Ferrari's Charles Leclerc who spins off into the gravel after contact with Lance Stroll bringing out an early safety car. Esteban Ocon, Logan Sargeant, Perez and both Alfa Romeo drivers of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu take the opportunity to pit, disposing of the tyres they started the race with.
As quickly as the safety car was deployed, it's time for it to come in again. Russell and Hamilton, again, have fantastic starts and manage to keep Verstappen at bay. But things aren't as good as it seems at Mercedes with the team asking Russell to "manage." Russell, not happy with this instruction replies "you're asking me to manage when I'm being attacked by my own team mate!"
With the help of DRS, Hamilton is quickly reigning his teammate in.
Lap 7 and the safety car makes a reappearance. Alex Albon in the Williams has lost it at turn 7 with quite a shunt. Russell pits from the lead with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz joining him. However, this turns into a costly error for the pair as the race is red flagged and those who are yet to pit, including Hamilton and Verstappen, now find themselves in a pretty good position.
With everyone on fresh tyres, the race resumes with a standing start. Hamilton leads the field away but Verstappen is closing in. Sainz, who restarts in 11th after his badly timed pit stop, gets away well and starts to pick off the drivers ahead one by one, starting with the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Back at the front, Verstappen finds himself with the aid of DRS and wastes no time in taking the lead from Hamilton. Less than two laps later and he's already pulled a gap of 2+ seconds.
Verstappen and the rest of the field are soon slowed down thanks to a virtual safety car caused by Russell and his Mercedes which has flames billowing from the exhaust. He pulls over at the end of the pit lane and the car is quickly recovered.
Racing is back under way, again, by lap 20 and Hamilton is concerned about the fast paced Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso creeping up behind him. "Alonso is pretty quick, I don't know if these tyres will make it to the end," Hamilton tells his team over radio.
Not too far behind Hamilton in 4th is Pierre Gasly in his Alpine defending well from faster cars behind. Sainz attempts a move on Gasly around the outside but quickly switches to the inside with success and takes 4th from the Frenchman. Perez, in the second Red Bull, is also doing a decent job making his way through the pack. He's up to 10th and into the points. Unsurprisingly, with the pace Red Bull have shown so far this season.
Lap 29. Halfway through the race. Verstappen is way out front with the fastest lap. Hamilton and Alonso, in 2nd and 3rd respectively, can't find a way to close the gap to the reigning World Champion. Alonso, however, is clinging on to Hamilton, pushing him so he uses his tyres. The gap between the pair is at 1.7 seconds.
After a quiet 10 or so laps, Hamilton starts to pull a gap to Alonso. But it's Gasly in 5th that's the one to watch. With the help of DRS he's clinging onto the Ferrari in front and keeping the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll at bay. At the front, Verstappen is starting to catch the back markers, lapping them in the process. The other Red Bull; Perez, is now up to 7th after passing Haas driver; Nico Hulkenberg. Despite this, he has been on the radio complaining of tyre deg.
There's a moment for Verstappen on lap 48 when he experiences some front locking which leaves him trundling along the grass. But, because he's so far ahead of P2, his lead isn't under threat and he carries on as if nothing has happened.
Less than 10 laps to go and things are getting spicy in the mid-field between Norris and Hulkenberg with the latter closing the door on the McLaren several times over the course of a few laps. Norris finally gets past the Haas on lap 52. In the process, Hulkenberg gets onto the tyre marbles and takes a trip through the gravel before continuing on in 9th.
Yellow flags start to wave on lap 54 and Hulkenberg's teammate; Kevin Magnussen is slowing. He only seems to be running on three wheels attached to the car with the fourth in the middle of the track. He's clattered the wall and the safety car has been deployed yet again. But, with some drivers complaining of debris on the track, the decision has been made; the red flag is thrown out for a second time.
With only 1 racing lap remaining, questions were being asked as to whether the race would continue. At 16:56 local time, our questions were answered and the drivers followed the safety car out of the pits ready for the restart.
Every driver left in the race lined up on the grid, all with soft tyres bolted to their cars. And, for a third time they were off!
Leader, Verstappen, has another clean get away but it isn't the same for those behind. Sainz clips Alonso at turn one causing the Aston Martin driver to spin. Gasly tries to avoid this but ends up collecting his teammate with both of them hurtling towards the barriers. Sargaent is also out and is joined by Nyck de Vries in his Alpha Tauri. Perez also had to take evasive action, running over the gravel but continues to run down in 10th. In the midst of all the chaos, the red flag is back for it's third appearance of the day. Alonso is quick to ask his team as to whether the current order will stand or if they'll go back to the previous lap. It all rests on the stewards shoulders as they investigate as to whether the drivers completed the necessary sector or not. Surprisingly, the race was to be resumed with the previous order, minus those who had crashed out at the previous restart.
Once again, the safety car leads the drivers on a "formation lap." This would also be the last lap. The chequered flag would be out waiting for them once the safety car peeled into the pits.
You'd think this would be the end but alas, it's not. A five-second penalty is given to Sainz on the last lap for the carnage at the first corner. If everyone bunches up enough, Sainz could be out of the points.
The race finally ends with 12 cars crossing the finish line. Verstappen takes another victory, his first at Australia. Sainz, furious with the penalty, drops from 4th to 12th which promotes Yuki Tsunoda into the points for the first time this season. Hulkenberg stops on track during the cool down lap. Ironically, this brings out the red flag again.
Hamilton and Alonso join Verstappen on the podium. Rounding out the top ten was Stroll, Perez, Norris, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Zhou and Tsunoda.
Phew, that was a long one with three red flags, numerous safety cars and a virtual safety car, multiple crashes and incidents, three different leaders and plenty of on-track action. And, people say F1 is boring? At least there's a few weeks to recover now before madness in Baku. See you then!
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