Formula 1 drivers - including Mercedes’ British star George Russell - have been told to ‘stop whingeing’ about the timing of the Australian Grand Prix by the chief organiser of the event, which took place last weekend.
F1 returned to Melbourne for the first time since 2020, when the race was abandoned as Covid-19 began to spread around the paddock. The last time the sport had raced at Albert Park was in 2019, but the sport’s return was sealed as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took the chequered flag after starting on pole position to extend his lead at the top of the championship.
It was Leclerc’s second win of the season after he won in Bahrain at the season-opening race before he finished behind reigning world champion Max Verstappen in Saudi Arabia. This meant the Australian Grand Prix was the third event on the calendar - an unusual slot for a race which traditionally opens the season.
