Russell and Hamilton MONSTER Verstappen as Leclerc OUT - Australian GP Lap One
Russell and Hamilton MONSTER Verstappen as Leclerc OUT - Australian GP Lap One
The Australian Grand Prix got off to a frantic start as Max Verstappen dropped behind both Mercedes drivers.
Red Bull driver Verstappen made a slow start and this was pounced on into the opening corner by George Russell.
But things quickly got worse for the Dutchman, as Lewis Hamilton made the most of Verstappen's struggles to force his way past into turn two.
Slightly further down the order, Charles Leclerc was forced to take an early bath after Fernando Alonso made contact with the rear of the Ferrari and spun him into the gravel.
Although the incident was briefly looked at, the fact that Alonso had nowhere else to go - team-mate Lance Stroll's Aston Martin filling the inside line - no further action was taken.
With Leclerc stuck in the gravel, the safety car was deployed, something that allowed several drivers to take cheap pit stops.
Among this number was Sergio Perez, who started on hard compound tyres from the pit lane, but stopped twice - once to fit softs and secondly to bolt back on the hards - in the hope that he can now reach the chequered flag without an additional stop.
Australian Grand Prix - Lap One order
1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
5. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
6. Alex Albon (Williams)
7. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
9. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
11. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
12. Lando Norris (McLaren)
13. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
14. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
15. Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)
16. Nyck de Vries (AlphaTauri)
17. Logan Sargeant (Williams)
18. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
19. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
OUT: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
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F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
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- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
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- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
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- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
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- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
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- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
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