Mercedes' George Russell secured the final podium spot, while Williams' Alexander Albon finished fourth after a late five-second penalty pushed Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli down to fifth. Lando Norris now leads the world championship after winning the season-opening Australian GP for McLaren, a race marked by unpredictable rain and multiple crashes.
Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez secured the third spot on the grid, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and McLaren's Lando Norris completed the top five.
The 2020 Australian GP at the Albert Park street circuit in Melbourne last March was called off at the last minute at the start of the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.
The Australian race, usually the season-opener, was delayed from March to November, but no new date was set for the Chinese Grand Prix, normally held in April
Website autosport.com said the Melbourne-based race, which is due to kick off the new season on March 21, would likely be pushed back to later in the yea
