Photo: Con Chronis/AFP (Getty Images)
Two years after being canceled at the last minute just before the pandemic began, the FIA Formula One World Championship has finally returned to Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia. The long-standing Australian Grand Prix circuit has also been modified to make overtaking easier during her absence from the schedule. The redesigned course initially had four DRS zones. However, race organizers returned to the usual three DRS zones after drivers raised safety concerns.
As in the previous two races this season, the duel between Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc continued at the front of the field. Leclerc won pole on Saturday, three tenths of a second ahead of Verstappen. The start of the race also went in favor of Leclerc.
The safety car was deployed early after Carlos Sainz lost control of his Ferrari on lap two. Sainz tried to overtake through the high-speed left-right section at turns nine and ten and then ran into the grass. He slid back across the track and then settled his car in a gravel bed. Sainz’s car suffered from severe porpoise all weekend, affecting its performance.
Leclerc has a pace advantage over his rival Red Bull and has opened up a five-second lead. Verstappen was pitted on lap 19 for hard compound tires and Ferrari responded by pitting their remaining driver on lap 22.
The safety car had to be deployed again on lap 23 after Sebastian Vettel spun in the fourth exit corner and crashed his Aston Martin into the inner wall. It was a disappointing end to Vettel’s first race of the season after testing positive for COVID and missing the first two races.
Vettel’s teammate Lance Stroll probably had an even worse weekend. He caused a collision with fellow Canadian Nicholas Latifi when the Williams driver passed him in qualifying. He received a grid penalty of three places. During the race, Stroll received a five-second time penalty for driving in front of Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas.
The Australian Grand Prix winner was effectively decided on Lap 39 when Max Verstappen retired when his Red Bull caught fire at Turn 1. In addition to winning the race, Charles Leclerc would set the fastest lap and lead every lap of the race. With pole position, Charles Leclerc became the 26th different driver to win a Grand Slam in Formula 1 history.
The other two places on the podium were decided in a three-way battle between Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez and the two Mercedes drivers. Despite an incredible start to overtake two cars and move into third place, Lewis Hamilton was passed by Pérez just before the second safety car period. George Russell was also able to get ahead of Red Bull, but was unable to hold his position. Pérez was second, Russell third and Hamilton fourth.
Leclerc leads the Drivers’ Championship by 34 points over George Russell. Formula 1 returns to Imola in two weeks for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.