And his beaten rivals concede Leclerc’s Ferrari is on another level after his Sunday procession around Melbourne’s Albert Park.

Leclerc’s second Formula One win in three races this year was a drive of dominance: he saluted more than 20 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was second but his teammate and reigning world champion Max Verstappen didn’t finish.

Mercedes’ George Williams took third place while Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo reckons his McLaren’s sixth-place, his best result of the season, deserves celebrating.

“I’ll try and rehydrate with a few beers tonight,” Ricciardo said.

But Ricciardo and his fellow F1 drivers could only offer a toast to Leclerc after he completed a rare feat.

The 24-year-old is the first Ferrari driver since Fernando Alonso in Singapore in 2010 to take pole position, lead from go to whoa, and also post the fastest lap time at a grand prix.

“We probably expected Red Bull to be a bit closer,” Leclerc said.

“We didn’t see that performance difference between us and Red Bull so it was a very big surprise.”

Leclerc only had one nervy moment during his fourth career victory: a lap 24 flashpoint after Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel hit a wall and retired.

The Monaco-born Leclerc’s six-second advantage disappeared at a re-start with Verstappen lurking on his rear wing.

The Red Bull ace almost caught Leclerc entering the first turn before the Ferrari pulled away, never to be challenged gain.

Verstappen’s chase ended on lap 39 of the 58-lap race when he smelled “weird fluid” and pulled over with his team uncertain at the cause.

“It’s not what you want if you want to fight for the title, the gap is already way too big,” Verstappen said as Leclerc took a 34-point lead at the top of the championship.

Verstappen’s colleague Perez trailed into second but was in awe of Leclerc’s display.

“Ferrari was super strong today, we couldn’t match them at any point,” Perez said.

“They were on another level.”

Leclerc, who won the season-opening race in Bahrain and finished second behind Verstappen in Saudi Arabia, has already banked 71 points in the drivers’ championship - well ahead of Russell (37) and Perez (33).

And Ferrari lead the constructor standings with 104 points followed by Mercedes (65) and Red Bull (55).

But with 19 races remaining, Leclerc said it was folly to think the F1 fight was all but over.

“It’s still very early in the season,” he said.

“I don’t want to focus too much on the championship for now.

“It’s extremely important not to put on ourselves extra pressure and not try to do overdo things.”

Ferrari last captured the constructors’ title in 2008.

And the famous Italian-based manufacturer last produced a world champion in 2007 - Kimi Raikkonen, who Leclerc replaced for the 2019 season.

“Now, I know that underneath me I have got a car that is capable of winning,” Leclerc said.

“I don’t really have to overdo things or do something special and spectacular ... because I know that it’s in the car.

“I just have to do the job.” 

- AAP