The reigning world champion began from pole and regardless of being handed by the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Hamilton in the beginning, he stored his composure to win the pink flagged race thrice with a number of crashes.
Hamilton completed second to Fernando of Aston Martin AlonsoWho made three out of three podiums this 12 months.
“We had a really unhealthy begin, I used to be cautious within the first lap as a result of I had lots to lose,” mentioned Dutchman Verstappen, who received the season-opening race in Bahrain and completed second in Jeddah a fortnight in the past.
“After that, the tempo of the automotive was quick. With these pink flags, I do not know, I do not actually perceive. It was a bit messy however we had good tempo and we received, in order that’s vital.
It was a disastrous day for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, the earlier 12 months’s winner, who was out on the primary lap, whereas Russell’s automotive caught fireplace on lap 19, ending his race as nicely.
The victory was Verstappen’s first in Melbourne and Crimson Bull’s first in Australia since Sebastian Vettel’s 2011 victory.
His teammate and winner in Saudi Arabia, Sergio Pérez, dropped to fifth after qualifying final as a result of brake points behind Lance Stroll within the second Aston Martin.
Crimson Bull’s victory got here regardless of unimaginable late drama when Verstappen had a move from Hamilton and Alonso with two laps left, that means that they had a bunched restart for an all-out assault.
However it descended into chaos when Alonso was caught up by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz as they have been pushing for place and despatched right into a spin, affecting movement as many different automobiles got here to grief.
Sainz was given a five-second penalty, finally ending twelfth, and the race was stopped once more.
It restarted after a protracted delay for a single lap behind a security automotive – with solely 12 automobiles remaining within the earlier beginning order – with no overtaking allowed.
“I did not anticipate to complete second, so I am very grateful for that,” mentioned seven-time world champion Hamilton.
“I am driving as finest I can and making an attempt as exhausting as I can, however nonetheless, contemplating we’re down on efficiency and outright tempo, it is wonderful for us to be preventing with Aston.”
On a very good day, Lando Norris was sixth within the McLaren, Nico Hulkenberg Haas in seventh and rookie oscar piastreWithin the different McLaren, an encouraging eighth on his dwelling circuit.
Alpha Romeo‘S zhou guanyu got here to the ninth and alphatauri yuki sunoda Tenth.
“At the moment we had a rollercoaster of feelings, with many issues happening in the beginning and within the final half hour,” mentioned Spanish legend Alonso.
“Mercedes was very fast and Lewis did an unimaginable job – I could not match the tempo, however we’ll take P3.”
With Crimson Bull’s plain tempo benefit, it was important for Russell and Hamilton to make a robust begin.
And he did precisely that, as Leclerc received lapped by a tentative Verstappen on the first nook earlier than spinning at Flip 3 and the protection automotive got here out.
He started urgent Russell alongside Hamilton, earlier than the protection automotive was deployed once more on lap seven when Alexander Albon of Williams misplaced management, leaving gravel on the monitor, which finally required a pink flag.
They once more received off to a gradual begin with Hamilton initially conserving Verstappen at bay.
However it was solely a matter of time earlier than the Dutchman made his transfer and took the lead on lap 12.
The security automotive was wanted as soon as extra when Russell’s automotive broke down, however Verstappen was now in cost and pulling clear.
By the midway level, he was seven seconds forward with the battle between Hamilton and Alonso for second place.
However extra drama adopted when Kevin Magnussen misplaced the rear tire of his Haas and the pink flag got here out once more on the demise.