Australian Grand Prix 2022 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Charles Leclerc delivered a commanding performance to win the Australian Grand Prix and reclaim the championship lead, as Max Verstappen suffered his second retirement in three races with a mechanical failure. The Ferrari driver dominated proceedings at Albert Park's revised layout, controlling the race from pole position to secure his second victory of the season and extend his championship advantage to 46 points over George Russell.

Verstappen's race unraveled with a fuel system issue similar to the one that struck in Bahrain, forcing him to retire while running second. The Red Bull driver had been fighting to stay within range of Leclerc when smoke began pouring from his RB18, ending his race prematurely and raising serious concerns about Red Bull's reliability. The failure allowed Sergio Perez to inherit second place for Red Bull, limiting the damage in the constructors' standings. George Russell secured his first podium of the season in third place for Mercedes, capitalizing on the misfortune ahead.

The race showcased Ferrari's early-season superiority, with Leclerc setting both pole position and fastest lap en route to a dominant victory. The F1-75 appeared to be the class of the field, combining strong pace with the reliability that Red Bull was lacking. Mercedes continued to struggle with porpoising and general performance, with Lewis Hamilton finishing fourth but over a minute behind the winner. Two retirements in three races left Verstappen facing an uphill battle in the championship, though Red Bull would soon resolve their issues and launch a devastating counterattack.