World Champion Max Verstappen has won the turbulent Australian Grand Prix, giving Red Bull its third victory in the third race of the Formula 1 season. The Dutchman prevailed on Sunday in Melbourne ahead of record world champion Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes and Fernando Alonso in an Aston Martin.

In the final phase, the second interruption of the race, a standing restart and then the third red flag on the penultimate lap caused a lot of confusion due to numerous accidents. The field then completed another lap behind the safety car, followed by the checkered flag.

Verstappen's teammate Sergio Pérez, supposedly the defending champion's fiercest world championship rival, had to start from the back of the field and ultimately finished fifth. Verstappen now leads the overall standings after his second victory of the season.

Nico Hulkenberg finished seventh, his best result after his comeback in the premier class and points for the Haas team for the first time.