The last time Formula One came to Melbourne, the season-opening Grand Prix in 2020 was abandoned in a spate of panic as the pandemic took hold across the world. Indeed, he registered an extra point with his final lap of the race. While team-mate Carlos Sainz’s weekend was mis-happed due to a combination of qualifying misfortune and race inaccuracy, Leclerc looked strikingly composed. There’s 20 races to go, but already Leclerc has a very healthy lead. It’s a rule which has not been enforced before this weekend, at all. With a four-time world champion back in their ranks after a Covid-enforced absence from the opening two Grands Prix, would this be the weekend Aston Martin joined the 2022 points party?. Yet Aston – a regular in midfield last year – are now the only team who have not scored a point this time round.

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