Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen has gained a chaotic Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Verstappen emerged unscathed from 4 begins of a crash-filled race on Sunday at Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit.
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Verstappen gained from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso whereas Melbourne-born Oscar Piastri completed eighth to gather his first F1 factors.
Eight of the 20 drivers didn’t end the race.
Verstappen was powering to a complete victory with simply two laps remaining when a crash halted racing – the second crimson flag of the grand prix.
The Dutchman had been main by a whopping eight seconds however his benefit disappeared because the standing restart dictated drivers resume from the grid.
In a increase or bust resumption, Verstappen clung to the lead however a mass collision behind him on the primary flip pressured 4 drivers out of the race, impacted one other two, and prompted one other crimson flag stoppage.
Melbourne-born Piastri, in his McLaren, narrowly prevented the carnage.
Verstappen, the reigning world champion, began from pole place however was overtaken on the primary nook by Mercedes’ George Russell, who began second on the grid.
Final 12 months’s Australian victor Charles Leclerc did not make it by way of the primary nook, his Ferrari was clipped by Lance Stroll and spun into the gravel, his race over.
Verstappen was quickly overtaken by Russell’s Mercedes teammate Hamilton earlier than Williams’ Alex Albon misplaced management on lap seven and crashed, forcing the primary of the three crimson flags of the race.
With Russell opting to pit moments earlier than Albon’s messy exit, Hamilton held the lead from Verstappen.
However the Brit was solely in a position to briefly maintain off a charging Verstappen, with the Dutchman sweeping to the entrance on lap 12.
Russell’s race ended six laps later when his Mercedes’ engine caught fireplace as Verstappen elevated his lead.
However with Verstappen on lap 56 of the 58-lap occasion, Haas’ Kevin Magnussen crashed, inflicting one other crimson flag.
The restart’s mass collision adopted, prompting one more crimson flag delay.
However the subsequent resumption was a rolling begin, making the ultimate lap a ceremonial procession the place drivers couldn’t change positions.
A report 444,631 spectators attended the Albert Park circuit over the 4 days, eclipsing the earlier greatest combination crowd of 419,114 set final 12 months.
