Carlos Sainz secured a commanding victory for Ferrari in the Australian Grand Prix, leading teammate Charles Leclerc to a sensational one-two finish, while Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 dominance was halted.
Sainz executed a brilliant overtake on Verstappen’s Red Bull to claim the lead on the second lap, only for the Dutchman to retire from the race due to a brake failure after just four laps.
With Verstappen out of contention, Sainz maintained control at the front, while Leclerc surged past McLaren’s Lando Norris during the initial pit-stop phase.
The race concluded under a virtual safety car following a collision involving George Russell. Russell, pursuing Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin for sixth place, lost control at Turn Six on the final lap, resulting in a dramatic crash that left his car suspended on its left-front wheel. Fortunately, Russell emerged unscathed from the incident.
Both Alonso and Russell were summoned to the stewards, with Alonso receiving a 20-second time penalty and three penalty points on his license. The stewards deemed Alonso’s driving during the incident as “potentially dangerous,” particularly given the high-speed nature of that section of the track.
Acknowledging his mistake, Alonso admitted to misjudging the maneuver, acknowledging that he slowed down too early before accelerating and then braking again.
Mercedes endured a challenging conclusion to a sobering day as Lewis Hamilton retired after just 16 laps due to an engine failure, further solidifying their position as contenders who struggled to keep up with the pace.
McLaren’s Lando Norris led teammate Oscar Piastri to secure a commendable three-four finish, ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who remained inconspicuous on a day where he failed to capitalize on Max Verstappen’s early retirement.
Carlos Sainz showcased exceptional dominance throughout the race, impressively leading the pack despite undergoing surgery to remove his appendix just 16 days prior, causing him to miss the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The 29-year-old Spaniard maneuvered past Verstappen on the second lap, seizing control of the race as the Dutchman encountered technical issues.
Verstappen’s radio messages indicated trouble, with him reporting a loss of control and smoke emerging from his car’s right rear wheel. Forced to retire from the race, it marked his first non-finish since the same event two years prior, underscoring the rarity of such occurrences for the typically dominant Red Bull driver.
Sainz maintained a firm grip on the race, never faltering as he navigated the track with confidence. He capitalized on his Ferrari’s strong performance, building a considerable lead over his teammate Charles Leclerc, who struggled to overtake Norris in the opening stint.
Ferrari’s strategic decision to pit Leclerc early proved successful, allowing him to undercut Norris and secure a favorable position. However, Sainz remained in control, emerging ahead of his teammate after his own pit stop on lap 16. From there, Sainz steadily extended his lead, ultimately securing a well-deserved victory, further solidifying his position as a formidable competitor in the Formula 1 circuit.
