MELBOURNE, Australia — A flawless
Charles Leclerc led from start to finish to steer his Ferrari to an action-packed win
at the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday with world champion Max Verstappen
failing to finish.
اضافة اعلان
The world championship leader from Monaco started
from pole, held his position at the first turn, and never looked back,
scorching round the 58-lap Albert Park circuit to take the chequered flag by a
massive 20.5 seconds.
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was second with George
Russell an encouraging third for the struggling Mercedes and his seven-time
world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton fourth.
“It’s amazing, the car was incredible today. What a
race and what a pace today,” said Leclerc after clocking a fourth career win
and second of the season.
“Honestly, what a car today. I did a good job all
weekend but it’s not possible without the car. I’m just so happy.
“Obviously we have only had three races so it’s
difficult to think of the championship but we have a very strong car and a
reliable car. It’s great to be back in this position,” he added.
The Mclarens of Lando Norris and
Daniel Riccardo were fifth and sixth.
Alpine’s Esteban Ocon came seventh ahead of Valtteri
Bottas in an Alfa Romeo, with Pierre
Gasly’s AlphaTauri and Alex Albon’s
Williams rounding out the top 10.
But there was disaster for Red Bull’s Verstappen,
the winner two weeks ago in
Saudi Arabia, who pulled over on lap 39 when
second, saying on the team radio: “I smell some weird fluid.”
He jumped out with smoke coming from the engine,
grabbing a fire extinguisher to help marshals put out the flames. It was his
second retirement in three starts this season.
“These kinds of things, if you want to fight for the
title, are unacceptable,” the Dutchman fumed. “We are so far behind (Ferrari).”
In contrast, Russell was delighted with his podium
place after Mercedes’ early season struggles with porpoising — bouncing at high
speed.
“We’ve got to be in it to win it and capitalize on
others’ misfortune and obviously we got a little bit lucky today twice, but
we’ll take it,” he said, referring to two safety cars.
Ferrari’s
Carlos Sainz and Aston Martin veteran
Sebastian Vettel also failed to finish after spinning out.
Victory consolidated Leclerc’s championship lead
after three rounds with the Ferrari ace, who also won the year’s opening grand
prix in Bahrain, earning the extra point for the fastest lap to add to 25 for
the race victory.
He now sits on 71 points ahead of Russell on 37. Verstappen
is sixth with only 25.
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