In the chaotic and action-packed 2023 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton narrowly avoided trouble and claimed the first podium finish of the season for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.

“To get a podium today is amazing; I definitely didn’t expect to be second this weekend, so I’m super grateful,” he said after the race.

The news was not as good for teammate George Russell. Though he started from second on the grid and led the first seven laps of the race, he was ultimately forced to retire due to a Power Unit failure. However, he could still see plenty of positives from the performance.

“We did everything right this weekend. We had a great Qualifying yesterday and today, the start was perfect,” Russell says. “We managed the first stint well, and I could have extended it quite a lot more. I’ve felt comfortable and strong in the car on all three days. I see no reason why we couldn’t have fought for victory today, so it’s disappointing.”

An action-packed race

On a wild afternoon in Melbourne, the race was interrupted by three red flag periods (a new F1 record), one Safety Car and one Virtual Safety Car.

A strong getaway at the start of the race saw both Russell and Hamilton pass polesitter Max Verstappen, running one-two in the opening stages.

Russell pitted from the lead on Lap 7 under the Safety Car. However, a red flag in the next lap compromised his strategy. Meanwhile, Hamilton took the subsequent standing start in first place, having switched to the hard tyre under the red flag.

Russell began his recovery by making up three positions and was running fourth when a Power Unit failure ended his race on lap 17. Hamilton, having been passed by Verstappen, was running second and managing his tyres to the end.

With a handful of laps remaining, a second red flag led to yet another standing start. Hamilton kept out of trouble and, despite a third red flag and rolling start procedure after a crash-filled restart, took the chequered flag in second place.

Encouraging signs

Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff was encouraged by the team’s overall competitiveness after a difficult start to the 2023 season.

“We had strong pace today and it was really close with the Aston Martins and the Ferraris. That is good news for us, and I think we have made a step forward this weekend, both on one-lap and race pace,” he says.

“It was unfortunate with George; he had a great stop from the lead and changed onto the hard tyre. It was absolutely the right call, and he would have been very much at the front. With the red flag his race was not so good anymore. He still could have made it to the front, though, so he was unfortunate to have a Power Unit failure.”

Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin added: “The pace of the car has been better than at the first two races; we made some changes to the setup for the circuit but hopefully we can take some of that learning into the upcoming races.”

For Hamilton, who arrived early for a short surfing holiday in Byron Bay ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, the result topped off an enjoyable week. “I want to say a huge thank you to everyone here in Melbourne and Australia,” he says. “I’ve had the best week here, and this town continues to put on a great show.”