Updated Verstappen avoids carnage to take Australian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen survived a crazy, chaotic and farcical finale to win the Australian Grand Prix.

Verstappen's cruise to the chequered flag was placed in danger when the race was stopped in the closing stages after Kevin Magnussen hit the wall and debris littered the track.

Magnussen's accident set up a two-lap shootout at Melbourne's Albert Park, but the frantic restart lasted only two corners after Fernando Alonso was sent spinning by Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Alpine team-mates' Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon crashed out. Nyck de Vries and Logan Sargeant also ended up in the gravel.

The race was red-flagged for a third time before a 33-minute delay followed as the FIA rooted through its rulebook.

The order of the previous start was taken up, with Verstappen following the safety car home in an absurd procession to the chequered flag.

Lewis Hamilton finished second ahead of Alonso. Sainz crossed the line in fourth, but a five-second penalty for colliding with Alonso dropped him out of the points to 12th.

Sergio Perez fought back from last to fifth in his Red Bull.

After springing a surprise in qualifying to occupy the second and third spots on the grid, Mercedes made the perfect start in the Melbourne sun after both George Russell and Hamilton gazumped pole-sitter Verstappen on the opening lap.

Russell, starting alongside Verstappen on the front row, drew alongside his rival before fighting his way past at the opening bend.

Hamilton then moved into Verstappen's tow on the run down to the third bend, out-braking and then muscling his way past his rival.

"He pushed me off the track," said Verstappen of Hamilton's move. "I was ahead at the apex. He pushed me off."

Further back and Charles Leclerc's race was over inside three corners when