Carlos Sainz, representing Ferrari, clinched triumph at the Australian Grand Prix, putting an end to Red Bull's dominant streak in Formula 1. Sainz's remarkable win came just two weeks after his recovery from appendicitis surgery, which had sidelined him from the previous race in Saudi Arabia.
The Spaniard's path to victory was paved by the unexpected early retirement of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, marking his first retirement in two years due to a mechanical failure resulting in engine fire.
Starting alongside Verstappen on the front row, Sainz maintained his position through the initial stages of the race. However, he surged ahead on the second lap, overtaking Verstappen at turn nine to claim the lead. Verstappen's subsequent retirement on lap four further solidified Sainz's grip on the race.
Last season, Sainz stood out as the sole non-Red Bull driver to clinch a race victory.
In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Sainz fended off his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in Melbourne. A late crash by Mercedes' George Russell on the final lap, triggering a virtual safety car, facilitated Sainz's path to securing the win.
Reflecting on his achievement, Sainz expressed satisfaction with his performance despite physical challenges, attributing his success to effective management of pace and resources throughout the race.
Lando Norris of McLaren claimed the third spot on the podium, denying his teammate Oscar Piastri's aspirations of becoming the first Australian driver to secure a podium finish in the F1 race.
Verstappen, who had previously triumphed in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, endured a disappointing start from pole position, succumbing to a brake issue that led to his fiery retirement on lap four. This marked the end of Verstappen's nine-race winning streak and his first Did Not Finish (DNF) since the 2022 race at Albert Park.
- Acknowledging the challenges faced during the race, Verstappen lamented the handling issues he encountered from the outset.
- The setback for Red Bull, which had previously enjoyed a dominant run of victories, underscored the unpredictable nature of Formula 1 racing.
- Additionally, Lewis Hamilton faced early retirement due to a power unit problem, compounding Mercedes' woes. His teammate Russell's crash further compounded the team's disappointment, highlighting a dismal outing for the Silver Arrows.
- Sergio Perez secured fifth place for Red Bull, while Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, starting from the tenth position, secured sixth place, narrowly edging out his teammate Lance Stroll.
- Alonso faced scrutiny from race stewards following Russell's crash, adding a post-race twist to the eventful Australian Grand Prix.
