Australian GP: Max Verstappen holds off Lewis Hamilton for victory after wild complete to chaotic race

Max Verstappen held off Lewis Hamilton to claim a maiden Australian Grand Prix victory just after a chaotic race, which completed with a processional protection-motor vehicle lap pursuing a wild late restart.

Verstappen seemed to be cruising to a at ease gain possessing reclaimed the lead soon after shedding out to George Russell and Hamilton during a frantic opening, but Kevin Magnussen’s crash and an ensuing next pink flag of the race established up a two-lap sprint to the finish from a standing start out.

The reigning entire world winner stayed in entrance of Hamilton off the line, in advance of a crash in between third-put Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz behind him set off a sequence of other collisions, with Alpine group-mates Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon using each individual other out from factors-scoring positions.

A third red flag adopted, alongside with even further confusion and controversy as there was a long wait prior to the FIA decided to restore the order from prior to the restart since the autos experienced not made it much adequate all-around the keep track of right before for the new classification to be verified ahead of the purple flag arrived out.

That intended that Alonso returned to third, but Sainz was remaining devastated as a five-second penalty for leading to the collision saw him relegated to 12th, leaving Ferrari pointless following Charles Leclerc’s initially-lap retirement.

Additional than two and a half hrs right after the race experienced begun, Verstappen was still left to acquire the chequered flag unchallenged and full his next get in 3 races this period, whilst Hamilton secured his to start with podium of the campaign.

Russell, who had given up the lead when pitting under Safety Car or truck conditions – not expecting the purple flag that followed – when Alex Albon crashed out on lap 6, retired on lap 18 following a technical failure.