Charles Leclerc extended his lead in the Formula 1 title race with a dominant display at the Australian Grand Prix F1
World champion Verstappen failed to reach the chequered flag for the second time in three races as his Red Bull was retired with 19 laps remaining.
He added: “I knew there was a problem so it was always going to be a question mark of finishing the race. But these kind of things, if you want to fight for the title, cannot happen.
With Sainz’s Ferrari beached in the sand trap, the safety car was deployed before the race re-started on lap seven.Three laps later, Perez, in his superior Red Bull machinery blasted past Hamilton to take third, with a Russell-led train forming behind the 37-year-old Mercedes driver. Sebastian Vettel, who crashed out of final practice and then qualified only 18th, was in the wars again. The four-time world champion ran on to the rumble strip on the exit of Turn 4, lost control of his Aston Martin, and careered into the wall.Russell took advantage of the safety car to change tyres, promoting him from fifth on the road to third, and ahead of Hamilton.
“If you are hurting the tyres to keep Perez behind, you can let him by,” came the message from the Mercedes pit wall.Red Bull looked set to have both their drivers on the podium, but trouble struck for Verstappen when he came to a sudden halt.
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