Lewis Hamilton returned to the Formula 1 podium in a bittersweet Australian Grand Prix for Mercedes which saw George Russell endure terrible luck.
Max Verstappen started on pole and won the race, but it wasn't quite as straightforward as his previous success. Russell got an incredible start off the line to take the lead while Hamilton also moved past the Dutchman to send British fans into raptures. A late red flag provided the chance of a two-lap shootout, but Verstappen was able to maintain his lead and avoid a late upset.
But Russell's race was later undone by a red flag and then an engine blaze, while Verstappen eventually got back ahead of Hamilton and sped off into the distance. Fernando Alonso was on course to secure a third-straight podium, but was spun on a race restart with just two laps to go as the two Alpines took each other out as part of a huge five-car smash.
Charles Leclerc was the first victim of an action-packed start to the race, spinning off the track at just the third corner of the first lap. His Ferrari was beached and he was soon out of the car, knowing that his race was over after just a few seconds.
At the front, Russell had enjoyed a brilliant start to take the lead, while Hamilton had also moved past Verstappen after a bit of wheel-banging. The Dutchman was unimpressed by that manoeuvre, judging by his angry radio message accusing the Brit of an unfair move.
Shortly after the safety car period ended, the race was red flagged when a hefty Alex Albon crash scattered gravel across the track. Russell had just pitted for fresh rubber and had given up the lead to do so and, as everyone else could now change tyres for free, it meant his strategy was ruined.
The race resumed with a standing start on the grid – after another complaint from Verstappen, who pointed out that Hamilton was not within 10 car lengths of the safety car. The Brit maintained his lead at first but, as soon as the DRS was enable, the Dutchman was able to fly past.
To make matters worse for Mercedes, Russell's fightback from seventh place ended prematurely as he suffered an engine failure. The marshals moved quickly after he had pulled over on the side of the track to tackle the flames which appeared on the rear of his car.
At the front, Verstappen was barely pushing and still extending his lead. The real battle shaping up towards the latter stages was between Hamilton and Alonso, with the Spaniard closing on his old rival and the Mercedes star declaring on the radio: "There's no way I'm losing out to him."
Sergio Perez had started from the pit lane but had been making steady progress up the order. Lando Norris put up an admirable fight against the Red Bull for quite a few laps but was eventually unable to resist the Mexican, who was up to seventh with 10 laps to go.
The safety car was back out for the third time when Kevin Magnussen hit the wall and lost his rear right tyre. It came to rest in the middle of the track, and the race director wasted little time before neutralising the race again to potentially set up a grandstand finish.
Verstappen got the restart he needed but there was chaos behind him and Hamilton. Alonso was spun around while Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon took each other out, and Nyck de Vries and Logan Sargeant were also left stranded in the gravel.
The decision was made to restart the race and finish it behind the safety car with those who were still moving under their own power, including Alonso. Carlos Sainz was handed a five-second time penalty for causing his fellow Spaniard's spin, meaning he dropped out of the points.
Full 2023 F1 Australian Grand Prix result
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull
- Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
- Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
- Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
- Sergio Perez – Red Bull
- Lando Norris – McLaren
- Nico Hulkenberg – Haas
- Oscar Piastri – McLaren
- Zhou Guanyu – Alfa Romeo
- Yuki Tsunoda – AlphaTauri
- Valtteri Bottas – Alfa Romeo
- Carlos Sainz – Ferrari
DNF: Charles Leclerc, Alex Albon, George Russell, Kevin Magnussen, Logan Sargeant, Nyck de Vries, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly
