On the route of Albert Park in Melbourne, where 420,000 spectators came this weekend, the Monegasque dominated the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), 2nd, and the Briton George Russell (Mercedes), 3rd.

For the fourth victory of his career – the second this season after the inaugural round in Bahrain – Leclerc even set the fastest time in the race.

"What a car today! This weekend, we were extremely strong, the tires were excellent. I'm so happy. It's incredible to win here", rejoiced the winner at the finish.

And to continue: "We are only in the third race, so it is difficult to think about the championship, but we have a very strong and reliable car. It is great to be back in this position".

In the championship, Leclerc now has 71 points and is ahead of George Russell (37), his Spanish teammate Carlos Sainz Jr (33), Sergio Pérez (30).

Verstappen slips back to 6th place with 25 points behind Lewis Hamilton (28).

- Drifting Verstappen –

Victim of a mechanical problem and forced to retire, engine on fire, on the 39th of the 58 scheduled laps, Verstappen, 3rd in the championship before Australia, therefore signs the bad operation of the weekend.

"We have to finish the races. Today was a bad day, I was managing the tyres, I couldn't fight Charles".

Starting second, a position he kept until his retirement, the Dutchman considers the situation "frustrating" and adds that "this kind of thing, if you want to fight for the title, is unacceptable".

In Bahrain in mid-March, Verstappen had already had to give up due to a breakdown, three laps from the finish, then he won the next round, in Saudi Arabia, ahead of Leclerc.

Formula One driver Max Verstappen (left) near his burning single-seater after his retirement from the Australian Grand Prix at the Melbourne circuit on April 10, 2022. William WEST AFP

Another notable retirement was that of Leclerc's teammate, Carlos Sainz, second in the drivers' standings on arriving in Australia.

The Spaniard lived a weekend to forget: modest 9th in qualifying and started on hard tires, he lost control of his single-seater from the start and finished his race stuck in a gravel trap.

In addition to the Spaniard, Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), who returned to competition after missing the first two rounds because of the Covid, was also forced to retire after hitting a wall.

Mercedes, redemption?

The abandonment of Verstappen therefore allows the Briton George Russell to climb on the third step of the podium.

The second of the season for the reigning world champion team, after Hamilton's 3rd place in Bahrain.

Starting 5th, the seven-time world champion finished 4th.

If, since the start of the season, the team has had difficulty managing its original aerodynamic single-seater, is this ranking synonymous with an imminent return of the Silver Arrows to the forefront?

"We had a little luck today (...) but we take it," tempered Russell.

Formula One driver George Russell who took 3rd place at the Australian Grand Prix on April 10, 2022 at the Melbourne circuit.

Paul Crock AFP

"There is so much work to bring us back to the level. We are never going to give up, we were very far behind and yet here we are, on the podium. If anyone can do it, it's Mercedes," he promised.

He had started in the third row (6th) of the GP, just next to Hamilton.

© 2022 AFP