Formula 1 Australian GP Recap: Verstappen Suffers Mechanical Failure, Leclerc Wins

HotCars

By Alex Laperriere

Published Apr 10, 2022

And finally, it looks like the Mercedes-powered cars found pace!

Via: Formula 1

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The results for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix are in, and there are quite a few takeaways here. Get this: Williams scored points!Before we get into the details, here's some background information on the Australian GP. The Australian GP features 16 turns, 58 laps, and different 3 DRS zones. And now, onto the specifics.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc Wins, Carlos Sainz Loses Out

In what was essentially an effortless race for Leclerc, Ferrari brought home the fastest lap and the race win this weekend. All of those points were much-needed for Ferrari, because on lap 3, Sainz had to tap out after he spun and got trapped in the gravel pit.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen DNFs, Sergio Perez Takes Second

Red Bull's reliability struggles continue to plague Max Verstappen. On lap 39 of the race, Red Bull engineers ordered Verstappen to shut the engine off after Verstappen reported noticing some fluids leaking. Shortly after, the Red Bull had some small flames coming out of it.

Nonetheless, Sergio Perez was able to fill in Verstappen's shoes and was able to secure an impressive 2nd place finish for Red Bull.

Daniel Riccardo And Lando Norris Strike Back

After a strong qualifying for McLaren, with Lando Norris qualifying 4th fastest and Daniel Riccardo qualifying 8th fastest, it appeared that McLaren was in a position to bag a strong finish. This sentiment proved to be true. For his home race, Daniel Riccardo finished in 6th place, with Lando Norris finishing right in front of Riccardo and was able to secure 5th place. It was a double-points finish for the McLaren squad - their first of the season.

George Russell's First Mercedes Podium

As the race progressed, it became clear that Mercedes found some pace. George Russell was able to fend off Sergio Perez for a few laps during the first part of the race (after Russell overtook Perez on the first lap), and overall stuck in front of Lewis Hamilton for the entire race. Mercedes' newfound pace, paired with Verstappen's DNF, allowed for Russell to take home P3 for the Mercedes team. His teammate Lewis Hamilton brought home 4th place.

Honorable Mentions

There are actually quite a few honorable mentions, so let's get right into it. First off, Williams' Alexander Albon brought home a points finish in Australia, after making a remarkable last to 10th place trek. Aston Martin had a tragic weekend, with Stroll bringing in 12th place, partly due to a 5-second penalty for weaving on a straight. Sebastian Vettel crashed early on in the race, forcing him out of the race.

However, despite everything else, the biggest takeaway here is the newfound pace in the Mercedes-powered F1 cars. McLaren and Mercedes both got double-points finishes. And while Aston Martin suffered quite a bit, Williams had a strong race today. The relationship with all of these cars? They are all powered by Mercedes powertrains.