Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates on the rostrum in the course of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on April 02, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has claimed his first Australian Grand Prix in outstanding circumstances in a chaotic Formula 1 race stuffed with drama from the inexperienced gentle to the checkered flag.
Although Red Bull’s first triumph in Melbourne since 2011 was anticipated, the carnage that unfolded in the latter phases of the race at Albert Park made it a particularly hard-fought triumph.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who drove beautifully in his Mercedes, completed second, whereas Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso stuffed the third spot on the rostrum.
“That is a really good weekend for us. I am happy with that,” Verstappen stated to his crew on radio.
Verstappen had appeared to be coasting to victory with an eight-second lead when particles from Kevin Magnussen’s Haas compelled the second of three purple flags issued in the race with three laps remaining.
On the restart, Verstappen was in a position to maintain Hamilton to the primary flip as bedlam unfolded behind his RB19, sparking a large reshuffle of the ending order in the 58-lap race.
Alonso, who had challenged Hamilton for second place all through a lot of the race, was hit by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz on the primary nook of the restart. Sainz, whose Ferrari confirmed good pace all through the race, was issued with a five-second penalty which relegated him to twelfth.
Williams driver Logan Sargeant additionally drove into the again of Nyck DeVries and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly additionally crashed.
Earlier, Ferrari’s defending champion Charles LeClerc exited after crashing on the opening lap, whereas the Mercedes of one-time chief George Russell caught fireplace on Lap 18.
Australian Oscar Piastri claimed his first championship factors when ending eighth in his McLaren.
