F1 Australian GP results: Ferrari's Leclerc wins from Perez, Russell

Leclerc dominated the race, apart from a sketchy moment after making a poor restart from a safety car period when Verstappen almost got alongside him.

Verstappen was on course for second place when his car failed with 18 laps to go. The second Red Bull of Sergio Perez finished second, ahead of Mercedes pair George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

2022 Australian Grand Prix race results

Cla	Driver	Chassis	Laps	Gap	Interval
1	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	58
2	Sergio Perez	Red Bull	58	20.524	20.524
3	George Russell	Mercedes	58	25.593	5.069
4	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	58	28.543	2.950
5	Lando Norris	McLaren	58	53.303	24.760
6	Daniel Ricciardo	McLaren	58	53.737	0.434
7	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	58	1'01.683	7.946
8	Valtteri Bottas	Alfa Romeo	58	1'08.439	6.756
9	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri	58	1'16.221	7.782
10	Alex Albon	Williams	58	1'19.382	3.161
11	Zhou Guanyu	Alfa Romeo	58	1'21.695	2.313
12	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	58	1'28.598	6.903
13	Mick Schumacher	Haas	57
14	Kevin Magnussen	Haas	57
15	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	57
16	Nicholas Latifi	Williams	57
17	Fernando Alonso	Alpine	57
	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	38
	Sebastian Vettel	Aston Martin	22
	Carlos Sainz Jr	Ferrari	1
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How the Australian Grand Prix unfolded

Leclerc held his pole advantage on the run to Turn 1, leading ahead of Verstappen, a fast-starting Hamilton, Perez (who got boxed-in on the outside of Turn 1), Russell and Lando Norris, whose McLaren dropped back from fourth at the start.

The second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz Jr. started on the hard tyre and struggled badly off the start line, dropping to 14^th on the opening lap. He then spun and beached the car at Turn 10 on the second tour after a move on Kevin Magnussen's Haas, bringing out the safety car.

After the restart, Perez passed Hamilton for third position using DRS on the approach to Turn 3 on lap 10.

Verstappen complained of tyre issues as early as lap 12, as Leclerc pulled out his lead to over 4s. Verstappen also encountered some sensor issues with his car and had dropped over 8s behind by lap 19 when he pitted for hard tyres.

As Verstappen rejoined, Fernando Alonso’s Alpine – which started on hards – passed Pierre Gasly’s AlphaTauri for eighth at Turn 3. Perez was now struggling for grip, and had Hamilton all over him, the Mexican pitting on lap 21.

Leclerc pitted on lap 22 and was followed in by Hamilton, as the medium starters all switched to hards. Hamilton overcut Perez, but the Red Bull driver soon repassed him around the outside on the approach to Turn 9.

A second safety car was required for Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin stopping on track after he spun into the wall exiting Turn 4, with Russell taking advantage to make his pitstop under yellow and vault up to third. He was followed by Alonso, who was yet to stop, Perez and Hamilton.

Leclerc made a poor restart and Verstappen attacked him hard, but Ferrari’s championship leader just clung on to his lead and then pulled away once more. Perez passed Alonso for fourth on lap 30 and Hamilton did likewise a lap later.

Perez overtook Russell for third at Turn 11 on lap 37, which became second two tours later when Verstappen was told to stop his car due to a technical failure. As marshals dealt with his car, a virtual safety car was called – with Alonso and Magnussen both pitting from the top 10.

Leclerc now held a 12s lead over Perez, ahead of Russell and Hamilton, Norris and Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren). The Ferrari man busied himself with ensuring fastest lap before scoring his second victory of the season, which extended his championship lead.

Perez suffered a late grassy off on his way to the runner-up spot and finished over 20s behind.

2022 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix fastest laps

Cla	Driver	Chassis	Laps	Time	Gap	Interval	km/h
1	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	58	1'20.260			236.740
2	Fernando Alonso	Alpine	57	1'20.846	0.586	0.586	235.024
3	Sergio Perez	Red Bull	58	1'21.094	0.834	0.248	234.305
4	George Russell	Mercedes	53	1'21.495	1.235	0.401	233.152
5	Valtteri Bottas	Alfa Romeo	54	1'21.651	1.391	0.156	232.707
6	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	37	1'21.677	1.417	0.026	232.633
7	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	51	1'21.886	1.626	0.209	232.039
8	Lando Norris	McLaren	55	1'22.248	1.988	0.362	231.018
9	Daniel Ricciardo	McLaren	54	1'22.451	2.191	0.203	230.449
10	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	58	1'22.469	2.209	0.018	230.399
11	Zhou Guanyu	Alfa Romeo	55	1'22.541	2.281	0.072	230.198
12	Alex Albon	Williams	54	1'22.589	2.329	0.048	230.064
13	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri	52	1'22.731	2.471	0.142	229.669
14	Mick Schumacher	Haas	55	1'23.006	2.746	0.275	228.908
15	Kevin Magnussen	Haas	44	1'23.071	2.811	0.065	228.729
16	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	56	1'23.342	3.082	0.271	227.985
17	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	48	1'23.592	3.332	0.250	227.304
18	Nicholas Latifi	Williams	49	1'23.882	3.622	0.290	226.518
19	Sebastian Vettel	Aston Martin	17	1'25.189	4.929	1.307	223.042
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2022 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix pitstops

Cla	Driver	Chassis	1		2		3		4
1	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	M	22	H	36
2	Sergio Perez	Red Bull	M	20	H	38
3	George Russell	Mercedes	M	23	H	35
4	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	M	22	H	36
5	Lando Norris	McLaren	M	20	H	38
6	Daniel Ricciardo	McLaren	M	21	H	37
7	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	M	17	H	41
8	Valtteri Bottas	Alfa Romeo	M	22	H	36
9	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri	M	21	H	37
10	Alex Albon	Williams	H	57	S	1
11	Zhou Guanyu	Alfa Romeo	M	21	H	37
12	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	H	4	M	3	H	19	H	39
13	Mick Schumacher	Haas	M	16	H	43
14	Kevin Magnussen	Haas	H	39	M	20
15	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	M	18	H	39
16	Nicholas Latifi	Williams	M	13	H	11	H	34
17	Fernando Alonso	Alpine	H	39	M	14	M	4
	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	M	18	H	20
	Sebastian Vettel	Aston Martin	H	23
	Carlos Sainz Jr	Ferrari	H	1
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