George Russell overcame a chaotic start to Formula One’s new era to win the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and lay down a significant maker in his world championship bid.
Russell traded the lead with Charles Leclerc on six occasions inside a wild first nine laps at Melbourne’s Albert Park before a Ferrari strategy blunder allowed the British driver to race off into the sunset.
Russell took the chequered flag 2.9 seconds clear of team-mate Kimi Antonelli as Mercedes completed a comfortable one-two with Leclerc holding off Lewis Hamilton for third.
Hamilton, who at one stage was involved in a frenetic three-way fight with Russell and Leclerc for the lead, finished just six tenths behind Leclerc as…