Max Verstappen says stewards created the ‘mess’ at end of Australian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen called the bizarre conclusion to Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix a “confusing mess” and accused Formula One’s stewards of bringing the chaos on themselves.

Verstappen survived the mayhem to take his second victory from the opening three races and extend his championship lead over team-mate Sergio Perez to 15 points.

Lewis Hamilton finished second to claim both his and Mercedes’ first podium of the year, with Fernando Alonso third for Aston Martin. Perez drove back from last to fifth, while George Russell retired with an engine failure.

Verstappen’s first triumph on Melbourne soil was placed in danger on lap 54 of 58 when Kevin Magnussen’s right-rear tyre flew off his Haas after he smashed into the Albert Park wall.

With debris on the asphalt, the stewards stopped the race for a second time following Alex Albon’s earlier smash.

Magnussen’s accident enabled a two-lap shootout, but the restart lasted only a couple of corners after Alonso was sent spinning by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Alpine team-mates’ Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon collided.

Nyck de Vries and Logan Sargeant also ended up in the gravel, with Perez cutting across the grass and Stroll running through the sandtrap, too.

The race was red-flagged for a third time. A bamboozling 33-minute delay followed as the sport’s governing body the FIA rooted through its rulebook.

Back where we want to be☝️Today completes a really good weekend for us @redbullracing @HondaRacingGLB