The Australian Grand Prix 2023 delivered an exciting and controversial race, with Max Verstappen emerging victorious despite a chaotic finish that saw a controversial crash-affected restart and a safety car finish. While the Red Bull driver took the lead ahead of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, the race ended under a safety car after the decisive crash, which triggered chaos behind.
Let’s review how it all went down.
Podium Finish:
- Max Verstappen (2:32:38.371)
- Lewis Hamilton (+0.179s)
- Fernando Alonso (+0.769s)
Leclerc’s Elimination from the race
Charles Leclerc’s dreams of a podium finish in the Australian Grand Prix 2023 were dashed after his contact with Aston Martin’s driver Stroll. The contact pushed his car into the gravel, forcing his elimination from the rest of the race.
Lance was forced to touch the rear right wheel of Charles’ car after Alonsa slowed down in front of him.
He stated: “I’m not pointing the finger at Lance because I think he had no choice once Fernando [Alonso] slowed down the car the second time, and for me, it was just impossible to see whether Lance was staying behind Fernando or if he was just in between… I didn’t think he was there,”
Chaos all around:
The crash that caused the chaos came after Kevin Magnussen’s Haas ran wide at the first chicane and tagged the wall, causing debris to scatter across the track. The impact broke Dane’s wheel rim, caused a puncture, and left debris strewn across the track. As a result, the rules stated that there would be two racing laps after the restart, leading to a tense finish.
Ferrari’s controversial season continues:
Controversy continued when Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was given a five-second penalty for causing the decisive crash by tagging Alonso’s car, dropping him from fourth to 12th and out of the points. Sainz argued that the punishment was too severe, describing the decision as “unacceptable” and stating that they needed to wait until after the race and discuss it with him.
Despite this, the finishing positions were taken from the last restart, and the cars then had to complete a final lap behind the safety car, as this move was necessary to yield results for the Australian Grand Prix 2023.
Who stood where at the climax?
The Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon were the other big losers from the official decisions. They took the penultimate restart fifth and 10th but crashed into each other and retired at the second corner. The unprecedented events led to a controversy that F1 is putting showbusiness before sport, with a direct line from the final laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021 to these events, as officials made errors that changed the course of the world championship fight between Verstappen and Hamilton.
Ironically, the desire to finish the Australian Grand Prix 2023 under racing conditions led to a final, bizarre, and confusing climax, with the race ending under a safety car. While Verstappen’s win, coupled with a fifth place for his teammate Sergio Perez after starting from the back, extended the Dutchman’s championship lead to 15 points, the controversy surrounding the race will undoubtedly continue to be a topic of discussion. Hamilton would be relieved after Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GP.
What did the Australian Grand Prix 2023 result in?
Despite the controversy, the Australian Grand Prix delivered an exciting and entertaining race, with plenty of action and drama. The two safety cars and the red flag added to the excitement, and Verstappen’s win was a deserving one, showcasing the Dutchman’s skills and talent as a driver. The race also saw some impressive performances from other drivers, including Hamilton, Alonso, and Perez, who all showed their determination and skill on the track.
Conclusion:
Overall, the Australian Grand Prix 2023 was a thrilling race that showcased the best of Formula One, with intense battles, controversial moments, and surprises. While the controversies surrounding the race will undoubtedly continue to be a topic of discussion, it was an exciting and entertaining race that demonstrated the excitement and drama that F1 can deliver. With the season set to continue, fans can look forward to more thrilling races, exciting battles, and unexpected twists and turns.
