MELBOURNE: Charles Leclerc has won the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, consolidating his and Ferrari’s championship leads, while Max Verstappen retired for the second time in three races. Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez finished second, with Mercedes’ George Russell rounding out the podium.
The 24-year-old from Monaco swept away his rivals, starting from the pole and winning by more than over 20 seconds over Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
With only three races in the 2022 campaign Leclerc’s Ferrari’s speed and dependability, combined with Max Verstappen’s difficulties at Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton’s woes at Mercedes, have made him the early favourite to win a maiden drivers’ title.
Your Top 10 in Australia! 🇦🇺#AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/CxmiLDRraQ
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 10, 2022
After a victory in the season-opening in Bahrain and a second-place finish in Saudi Arabia behind world champion Verstappen, Leclerc now leads the standings by 34 points.
Leclerc and Ferrari will have further motivation, but also added pressure, to consolidate their lead with the next race at Imola on April 24 in front of their home supporters.
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