Mercedes driver Hamilton overtoౠok pole-sitter Verstappen of Red♓ Bull on the first lap of the F1 Australian Grand Prix, later defending his manoeuvre amid accusations from his rival of a rule-break.

Verstappen did not defend particularly aggressivelyꦉ, likely knowing he had t♔he better car to make up the position later, which he duly did en route to victory.

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Sky reporter Kravitz🃏 has🐓 noted how the battle between F1’s two top drivers has evolved from the days where Verstappen chased then-champion Hamilton.

“What’s fascinating for me is that we now have Verstappen with a championship tꦿo think about,” Kravitz said.

“We have a completℱe flip from the Hamilton seasons from 2014-21, when he was going for the championships, when he knew that he had the fastest car and needed to play it safe.

“You had the upstart Verstappen challenging h🔯im, wantಌing to get in there.

“It has completely flipped. 

“🦹Now you’ve got the upstart Hamilton challenging Verstappen, saying: ‘No cares𒁃 given! I’m out there to take all the risks!’

“He’s puꦰtting it on the championship defender Verstappen, who is saying: ‘I’ve got to think about my championship here’🦋.

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“It’s so weird, funny!

“Hamilton knows he won’t win the championship this year, not unless something♏ really weird happens.

“He canﷺ go in there and be aggressive with Verstappen, knowing Verstappen will give way.”

Verst🎉appen shot past the defenceless Hamilton later at the F1 Australian Grand Prix before claiming his second victory in three grands prix of 2023.

His title defence, and a th꧅ird consecutive championship, looks nailed on already.

But Hamilton still holds the joint-record, with Michael Schumacher, for ꧑seve꧂n championships which is still some way off for Verstappen.

They resume battle at the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from April 28.