The 15 best F1 drivers of all time
With Max Verstappen on the cusp of winning a fourth Formula 1 title, where should he sit in the list of the greatest Formula 1 drivers in history? Here's out latest verdict on the top 15
Sebastian Vettel holds off polesitter Lewis Hamilton for victory in Australia
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel won the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne after a mid-race virtual safety car dashed Lewis Hamilton’s chances for victory.
Vettel pitted during a VSC session (which turned into a safety car) triggered by both Haas cars leaving the pits with loose wheels, a faulty wheelgun to blame, after Hamilton and Ferrari counterpart Kimi Räikkönen had pitted just laps earlier. Hamilton kept on Vettel’s tail for 26 laps but could not catch up, even with the third DRS zone added to Albert Park. The defending champion ended up five seconds back from the leader. The bizarre series of events denied the Haas pair a double-points finish, as Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean were running in fourth and fifth respectively.
Home favourite Daniel Ricciardo recovered from a three-place grid penalty to finish fourth behind Kimi Räikkönen. It was an attacking Fernando Alonso who took fifth after pitting under VSC, his joint-best finish for McLaren, and he praised the Renault power unit after the race.
Max Verstappen, jumped at the start by Magnussen, spun on lap 10 and had to recover from eighth to sixth on overheating rear soft tyres. Nico Hülkenberg finished seventh, ahead of Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas who recovered to eighth from 15th on the grid due to a crash in qualifying.
Carlos Sainz Jr rounded out the top 10 while Force India missed out on a points finish with Sergio Pérez 11th and Esteban Ocon in 12th. Charles Leclerc passed Lance Stroll for 13th, with Toro Rosso’s Brendon Hartley the last finisher in 15th. Sergey Sirotkin (brakes), Pierre Gasly, and Marcus Ericsson were the remaining retirees.
For full analysis of the race, sign up for the Mark Hughes newsletter to receive the in-depth Grand Prix report following the Grand Prix.
1 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | Lap 58 |
2 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +5.036sec |
3 | Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari | +6.309sec |
4 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull | +7.069sec |
5 | Fernando Alonso | McLaren | +27.886sec |
6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +28.945sec |
7 | Nico Hulkenberg | Renault | +32.671sec |
8 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | +32.671sec |
9 | Stoffel Vandoorne | McLaren | +32.921sec |
10 | Carlos Sainz Jr | Renault | +45.722sec |
11 | Sergio Perez | Force India | +46.817sec |
12 | Esteban Ocon | Force India | +60.278sec |
13 | Charles Leclerc | Sauber | +75.759sec |
14 | Lance Stroll | Williams | +78.288sec |
15 | Brendon Hartley | Toro Rosso | +1 lap |
16 | Romain Grosjean | Haas | DNF |
17 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | DNF |
18 | Pierre Gasly | Toro Rosso | DNF |
19 | Marcus Ericsson | Sauber | DNF |
19 | Sergey Sirotkin | Williams | DNF |
With Max Verstappen on the cusp of winning a fourth Formula 1 title, where should he sit in the list of the greatest Formula 1 drivers in history? Here's out latest verdict on the top 15
Every 2025 F1 car will be revealed at the same time next February, in a live London show, featuring all of next year's drivers and team principals
One of the greatest drivers ever seen on the Formula 1 stage, Michael Schumacher refused to contemplate defeat: an attitude that brought him audacious results, but led him to shameful tactics. Matt Bishop picks the five lowest moments
All but confirmed as the 2024 Formula 1 world champion, Max Verstappen has been relentless in pursuit of the title, despite the pace of rivals. The parallels to another sporting great are unavoidable for Cambridge Kisby