Max Verstappen’s brake failed after four circuits, and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz won the Australian F1 Grand flawlessly.
Sainz, whose contract expires next season, recovered nicely after appendix surgery. Sainz defeated Charles Leclerc at Albert Park in 2022 to give Ferrari its first one-two finish since Bahrain.
Outstanding efforts by McLaren’s Lando Norris in third and Australia’s Oscar Piastri in fourth. Mercedes’ George Russell wrecked on the penultimate lap owing to an engine issue, causing Lewis Hamilton, who will replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, to withdraw. Sergio Pérez of Red Bull was sixth.
After Verstappen’s right rear brake ruptured and caught fire, Sainz, who started second, took the lead.
Verstappen was upset when he retired due to a mechanical issue, his first since Australia in 2022. Verstappen: “We can observe that the right rear brake was stuck on when the lights went out, so it was essentially driving with the handbrake on.” The team hasn’t explained the problem.
The win was huge for Sainz. Two weeks later, the Spaniard withdrew from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after appendix surgery. He struggled with Albert Park’s G-forces, lost a few kilograms after the procedure, and couldn’t finish his physical training and simulator work in time for the race.
Fantastic. Sainz finds life fascinating and enjoyable.
Carlos Sainz starts strong after winning. In Melbourne, he showed his drive to secure a solid position for next season. Ferrari’s strong racing speed and cool operational management, absent last season, will motivate Sainz and the team.
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Only Sainz overcame Red Bull in Singapore in the past and current seasons. He won his third race in 2022 after winning the British Grand Prix and the Australian Grand Prix.
Verstappen led Carlos Sainz into turn one, but on lap two with DRS, the Spaniard overtook him and took the lead into turn nine, drawing loud shouts from the crowd.
Verstappen complained that the car was “loose,” allowing Sainz to pass when he lost control of the back and skidded at turns seven and eight. His problem became apparent as the car’s back flared up and returned to the field. Verstappen sneaked into the pit on the third lap and shouted, “I have smoke, fire, fire, brake.”
Verstappen’s right rear brake burst out in dust and smoke as he entered the pits, burning his tire. The car was retired quickly.
Sainz led Norris, Leclerc, and Pérez in an open race without the world champion. Leclerc started pit stops on lap 10.
Piastri finished fourth after Sainz pitted eight seconds ahead of Norris.
Hamilton left the virtual safety car on lap 17 due to an engine issue, ending a terrible weekend. Lap sixteen saw Sainz Pit. New tires helped McLaren take the lead after exchanging Piastri for Norris on lap 29.
Tire control is vital on this circuit, so Sainz’s serenity helped. He led Leclerc by nine seconds after Ferrari replaced his tires on lap 34.
After his final pit stop on lap forty-one, Sainz recovered to the lead with a comfortable gap over Leclerc and the tires after Fernando Alonso slowed down in turns six and seven, winning a well-deserved victory. Russell lost his ass and hit the wall, approaching the latter.
The stewards examined him and gave Alonso a 20-second drive-through penalty for “potentially dangerous driving.” He dropped from sixth to eighth place.
Thus, Lance Stroll placed sixth for Aston Martin, Nico Hülkenberg ninth, Yuki Tsunoda seventh for RB, and Kevin Magnussen tenth for Haas. Daniel Ricciardo placed 12th at home.
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