Charles Leclerc seals win in Australian Grand Prix as Max Verstappen abandonment hands George Russell a podium place

CHARLES LECLERC has won the Australian Grand Prix to pick up his second victory in three races this year.

It was another impressive performance from the Frenchman with Ferrari untroubled from start to finish.

GettyCharles Leclerc picked up his second win of the season in a straight-forward race for the Frenchman[/caption]

AFPLewis Hamilton claimed third despite a troubled race[/caption]

APMax Verstappen quit the race in lap 39[/caption]

Two safety cars could not disrupt his flow, nor could Max Verstappen’s shock abandonment in lap 39.

Verstappen had trailed Leclerc throughout in second place but a problem with his engine forced his retirement.

That pushed team-mate into Sergio Perez into second place with Mercedes pair benefitting also – George Russell taking a podium place with Lewis Hamilton fourth.

Hamilton had got off to a dream start, gaining two places inside the first turn after overtaking Lando Norris and Sergio Perez into third place.

But the pace of Red Bull man Perez was too much and he overtook Hamilton in the tenth lap.

Perez lost position due to a safety car but had no problem overtaking Russell with Red Bull showing how strong their pace is down the straight.

McLaren pair Lando Norris and Australian Daniel Ricciardo claimed fifth and sixth to record the team’s first double points of the season.

Elsewhere, Ferrari’s day of joy did have a sour note – Carlos Sainz crashed out in lap two.

The Spaniard had a nightmare weekend after qualifying ninth on the grid after a red flag prevented him from recording a faster time.

Sainz slipped into 14th inside the first few corners and in battling to regain position he lost control and veered off track before ending up in the dirt.

More to follow…

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