“I wanted to get it! » In the radio conversation at the end of his line crossing of the Australian Grand Prix, Sunday April 10, Charles Leclerc wanted to justify himself. As well as the win, the Ferrari driver went on to set the fastest lap on the final lap, against his team’s advice, adding the icing on the cake of a perfect afternoon. His second victory of the season (and his fourth in his career) confirms the young Monegasque at the head of the drivers’ world championship, after three races. The Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) and the Briton George Russell (Mercedes) completed the podium of an event marked by the abandonment of the defending champion, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) following a mechanical problem.
Totally unstoppable, @Charles_Leclerc ? He grabs his fourth win in Formula 1 with a stunning display in Australia… https://t.co/4EqYs7D8iZ
In this “next generation” Formula 1, where new rules have come into force this season, with a view to rebalancing the forces between the teams – and increasing the spectacle – the cards have been redistributed. After several years of watching the clash between Red Bull and Mercedes for the top spots from afar, Scuderia Ferrari is back at the front of the pack. If the race had not been narrowed by the two interventions of the safety car, after a spin from Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) on the second lap and the accident of Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) on the twenty- third, Charles Leclerc would have widened a significant gap over all his opponents, as his afternoon in Melbourne was a lone rider.
“It’s great to be back in this position, savored the winner at the end of the race. This is the first victory that I won having had the feeling of being in control until the end. This weekend we were extremely strong, the tires were excellent. » Solid leader of the world championship – with 71 points, he has almost double the points of his closest pursuer, George Russell (Mercedes), 37 -, Charles Leclerc is not racing, the season remaining long, but is satisfied with ‘to have “a very strong and reliable car. »
The setbacks of Max Verstappen
For the return of Formula 1 to Australia, after two years when the circuit remained on the sidelines, due to the pandemic, the Melbourne public turned out in droves around the race. The Australian metropolis, where, in 2020, the world circuit was interrupted – like the rest of the world – did not experience any setbacks on Sunday. Under a bright sun, Charles Leclerc concluded his weekend in style. Starting in pole position after controlled qualifying sessions, the young Monegasque (24) retained first place during the fifty-eight laps of the race, not being worried by any rival. If Max Verstappen seemed on the verge of overtaking him after an intervention by the safety car following an accident, the Scuderia driver defended himself; before regaining a comfortable lead.
For the reigning world champion, the season bears little resemblance to the previous edition, which saw him overpower Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). Forced to abandon – the second in three Grands Prix – in the thirty-ninth lap, the Dutchman did not conceal his frustration. “I don’t know what happened, I had to stop the car, said Max Verstappen after the race. This is unacceptable, if you want to fight for the championship, this kind of thing must not happen. » Already relegated to 46 points behind Leclerc in the world championship standings, the Red Bull driver sees his crown threatened. “Before thinking about the championship, the most important thing is to finish the races. We need a faster car than theirs, but we don’t have it yet. It’s going to be complicated “, acknowledged the Dutchman.
If Red Bull, through Sergio Pérez, and Mercedes, through that of George Russell, climb on the podium in Melbourne, the two flagship teams of recent years are struggling to keep up with the pace set by Ferrari at the start of the season. . “There is so much work to bring us back up to standard. We are never going to give up, we were very far behind and yet here we are, on the podium”, recognized the Briton, third thanks to the abandonment of Verstappen. It is up to them to correct the situation in two weeks for the return of the circuit to Europe, at Imola (April 24). But on the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will, for sure, once again have to reckon with the ambition of Charles Leclerc.
Your Top 10 in Australia! ?? #AusGP #F1 https://t.co/CxmiLDRraQ