Charles Leclerc has completed a dominant weekend in his Ferrari after converting his pole position into a바카라 웹사이트comprehensive triumph in the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday. (More Sports News)
The 24-year-old Leclerc extended his lead in the drivers' championship while claiming his second win of the season바카라 웹사이트following victory in the season-opening race in Bahrain.
Leclerc was able to hold off Red Bull rival Max Verstappen바카라 웹사이트during the opening laps and defended well mid-race under바카라 웹사이트safety car conditions to pull away for a decisive 20.524-second victory.
Sergio Perez overcame a slow start to take second ahead of바카라 웹사이트the Mercedes' combination of George Russell, who secured바카라 웹사이트his first podium finish for the season, and Lewis Hamilton.
McLaren pair Orlando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo finished바카라 웹사이트fifth and sixth.
Verstappen, the world champion, endured another frustrating바카라 웹사이트race when a mechanical failure ended his hopes while he바카라 웹사이트was running second 39 laps into the 58-lap race.
Verstappen, who was clearly disappointed after the race, never really challenged Leclerc, whose Ferrari was the바카라 웹사이트quicker car under race conditions in Melbourne.
The drivers' championship leader, who pitted on Lap 22,바카라 웹사이트confirmed that when posting the fastest lap of 1 minute,바카라 웹사이트20.260 seconds with a final-lap flourish.
He is the first Ferrari driver since Fernando Alonso in바카라 웹사이트Singapore in 2010 to complete a racing “grand slam," having바카라 웹사이트claimed the pole position, led wire-to-wire, claimed the race바카라 웹사이트and also posted the fastest time.
“Honestly, what a car today. Of course, I did a good job all바카라 웹사이트weekend, but it was not possible without the car,” he said.
His teammate Carlos Sainz, who finished on the podium in바카라 웹사이트Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, had less luck in a testing바카라 웹사이트weekend.
After an issue in qualifying resulted in him starting from바카라 웹사이트ninth, he dropped back further in the field with a slow start바카라 웹사이트and then lost control on the second lap, ending his race.
But Leclerc believes Ferrari has demonstrated it is going to바카라 웹사이트be competitive in the manufacturers' championship this year.
“Obviously we are only in the third race, so it is difficult to바카라 웹사이트think about the championship,” he said.바카라 웹사이트
“But, to be honest, we have a very strong car, a very reliable바카라 웹사이트car too, and for now we have always been there. I hope it바카라 웹사이트continues like this and if it does, we probably have chances바카라 웹사이트for the championship."
The Mercedes team has endured problems so far this year바카라 웹사이트and is off the pace of their Ferrari and Red Bull rivals.
But Russell was pleased with the improvement in his car this바카라 웹사이트weekend, though he conceded they received some luck with바카라 웹사이트Verstappen's misfortune.
“We got a little bit lucky today … but we will take it. To be바카라 웹사이트standing on the podium is special,” Russell said.
“We are never going to give up. We are going to keep on바카라 웹사이트fighting. We have to keep this up while we are on the back바카라 웹사이트foot, I'm sure we will get there after a few more races.”
Verstappen said the Red Bull was “already miles behind”바카라 웹사이트Ferrari.
“I don't even want to think about the championship at the바카라 웹사이트moment,” he said.바카라 웹사이트
“I think it is more important just to finish races, because바카라 웹사이트today was, in general, just a bad day again. It is pretty바카라 웹사이트frustrating and unacceptable.바카라 웹사이트
“I knew there was a problem and it was always going to be a바카라 웹사이트question mark for finishing the race, but these kind of바카라 웹사이트things, if you want to fight for the title, cannot happen.”
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