Formula 1: Charles Leclerc, at Australian GP, joins Fernando Alonso in rare Ferrari record

Charles Leclerc on Sunday won the Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne. With the P1 finish, the Ferrai driver recorded his third podium and second triumph in the three races this season. The 24-year-old now leads the drivers’ championship by 34 points and his team has a 39 point advantage in the constructors’ table. 

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Leclerc, who started on pole position, held off a pacing Max Verstappen in the opening laps of thr race. However, another engine failure forced the Red Bull driver to surrender on lap 38. The Ferrari man then defended his lead well to pull away for a decisive 20.524-second victory. Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez overcame a slow start to take second and Mercedes’ duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished third and fourth, respectively.

Flying all through the weekend, Leclerc registered his name to the Ferrari record book. The Monaco racer became the team’s first driver since Fernando Alonso in Singapore in 2010 to complete a racing “grand slam”. It means he won pole, led the race at all time and also posted the fastest time. 

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Defending world champion Max Verstappen had recorded a grand slam at the Austrian Grand Prix last year. Seven-time F1 winner Lewis Hamilton scored the feat in the 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel, who drives for Aston Martin in 2022, had achieved the grand slam in back to back races,  Singapore Grand Prix and Korean Grand Prix, in 2013 in his Red Bull car. 

“Honestly, what a car today. Of course, I did a good job all weekend, but it was not possible without the car,” Charles Leclerc said.

His teammate Carlos Sainz, after starting ninth from the grid, dropped back further in the field with a slow start and then lost control on the second lap, ending his race.

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Nevertheless, Leclerc is bullish on Ferrari’s prospects in the manufacturers’ championship this year.

“Obviously, we are only in the third race, so it is difficult to think about the championship,” he said.

“But to be honest, we have a very strong car, a very reliable car too, and for now we have always been there. I hope it continues like this and if it does, we probably have chances for the championship.”