F1 Australian GP red-flagged after Albon accident

Albon was running in sixth place but lost the rear of the FW45 through Turn 7 to career across the gravel trap and nose heavily into the barrier before bouncing back towards the asphalt.

The Thai-Briton lost the front wing and damaged the rear wing in the immediate impact before the car came to a rest over the kerbs and was unable to continue.

An initial safety car was deployed before the race was halted due to the gravel - which showered the passing Alpine of Pierre Gasly - and debris that has been dragged onto the track.

The race was restarted from a standing start after the debris was cleared.

The stoppage appears to have hurt early leader George Russell.

The Mercedes driver enjoyed a superior launch over polesitter Max Verstappen to challenge the Red Bull, then cementing first place with the inside line into Turn 1.

The two-time champion was delayed at corner exit to hold up second row-starter Lewis Hamilton, but the second Mercedes then dived down the inside into Turn 3.

Hamilton came out on top to take second in a robust battle, for which Verstappen’s claims that he had been run out of room were dismissed.

With the advantage of track position, Mercedes opted to pit Russell in a slightly slow 3.6s stop and he rejoined in seventh place.

However, the red flag denied the advantage of taking a theoretically quicker pitstop behind the safety car, as Hamilton and Verstappen can change tyres under red flag conditions.

Similarly, fourth-running Carlos Sainz also pitted initially but was bumped back to 11th.