Verstappen claims chaotic crash-filled Australian GP win over Hamilton

Max Verstappen checked off another box in his incredible career, winning the Australian Grand Prix for the first time Sunday behind a safety car.

The Red Bull driver started on pole position and held off Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton late following multiple red-flag restarts with two laps remaining to claim victory.

"It's great to win here - my first win," Verstappen said. "It's been a while for the team here. Very, very happy."

It's the 37th win of Verstappen's career and marks the first time Red Bull has claimed victory in the first three races to start the season.

"It was a bit of a mess, but we survived everything," Verstappen said. "We won, which is of course the most important."

Verstappen was comfortably in control (8.5s ahead of Hamilton) before the race was red flagged for a second time on Lap 56 after Kevin Magnussen hit the wall.

This is where things really went off the rails as the late restart was complete chaos.

Verstappen held Hamilton off the line while numerous crashes behind them forced a third red flag.

After a lengthy delay, the FIA opted to finish the race behind the safety car in the order of the last restart, without the cars that had since retired. The decision was made because the cars did not complete the first sector on the restart.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso secured a third consecutive third-place finish. It's the first time he's been on the podium at least three times in a single season since 2013.

"We had a roller coaster of emotions today," Alonso said. "The last half hour was difficult to understand."

It's the first podium finish for Hamilton in 2023 after coming in fifth in each of the first two races. It's the fourth time Hamilton finished runner-up in the last seven races dating back to last season.

"I didn't expect to be second, so I'm super grateful for it," Hamilton said. "For us to be up here fighting with Aston is just amazing at this point of the season."

Verstappen had historically struggled at the Albert Park Circuit. He entered the weekend with just one podium finish (third in 2019) in six previous races at the circuit, and suffered his only retirement of last season at the track. His fortune changed this year, though, claiming pole position Saturday before locking down a second win of the 2023 season to stretch his championship lead to 15 points.

Red Bull's Sergio Perez, who entered the day one point back of Verstappen for top spot in the drivers' standings, finished fifth after starting the race from pit lane.

The race also featured a number of early retirements. Charles Leclerc beached his car on Lap 1; Alex Albon drove his Williams into the barrier on Lap 7 causing a red flag; Mercedes' George Russell suffered an engine failure on Lap 18.

Nico Hulkenberg, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Zhou Guanyu, and Yuki Tsunoda all picked up their first points of the season thanks to the eight retirements. Logan Sargeant and Nyck de Vries are the only drivers yet to score a point through three races.