Formula 1: Reigning world champion Max Verstappen forced to retire from Australian Grand Prix

Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen has been forced out of the Australian Grand Prix, a brake fire ending his charge for a record-equalling tenth straight victory.

And he wasn’t the only world champion to be struck down with mechanical failure, Lewis Hamilton retiring on lap 17 with engine failure.

Despite starting on pole, it looked a very different race situation for Verstappen from the off as the Red Bull ace could only pull away to a 0.9-second lead after the first lap, compared to his general five seconds or more advantage across the last five races.

It allowed Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to use the early DRS opening on the second lap to capture the lead down the back straight.

Verstappen jumped on his team radio to complain about his backend feeling loose before smoke began to pour from the rear of his car.

He pushed on for half a lap before losing all pace as fire overtook his right tyre.

He was able to limp into the pits, where the fire was quickly extinguished, but the all-conquering Red Bull driver was forced to retire on the third lap in front of more than 130,000 fans at Albert Park.

Hamilton’s dour weekend also came to a tame end, the seven-time world champion not even able to get his Mercedes back to pit lane after losing power.