Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz ended Pink Bull’s System 1 profitable streak Sunday when the Spaniard took benefit of Max Verstappen’s early retirement to win the Australian Grand Prix simply two weeks after lacking the earlier race in Saudi Arabia as a result of an emergency appendectomy.
Sainz, who began on the entrance row alongside Verstappen, saved his place into flip one, however handed the Dutchman on lap two at flip 9 for the lead and took management as soon as his rival retired two laps later with a fiery mechanical failure.
Verstappen had received the primary two F1 races of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and was on a nine-race profitable streak.
Sainz completed forward of teammate Charles Leclerc for Ferrari’s first 1-2 outcome for the reason that 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix, with McLaren’s Lando Norris ending in third for his first podium at Albert Park.
His teammate, Australian Oscar Piastri, was fourth.
Sainz, who shall be changed by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari from 2025, was thrilled to get his third profession win towards the percentages, his first since final 12 months’s Singapore Grand Prix.
“I felt actually good on the market,” he mentioned. “In fact, [I felt] a bit stiff, particularly bodily. It wasn’t the best, however I used to be fortunate that I used to be roughly by myself so I might simply handle my tempo, handle the tires, handle every little thing.
“Life generally is loopy, you already know. What occurred at the start of the 12 months, then the rostrum in Bahrain, then appendix, the comeback, the win, it is a curler coaster. However I liked it.”
“I assume it will assist get a job for subsequent 12 months… simply joking!” 😁<br><br>Race-winner Carlos will all the time bear in mind the 2024 Australian Grand Prix 😊<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#F1</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusGP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#AusGP</a> <a href=”https://t.co/2yCslkAopF”>pic.twitter.com/2yCslkAopF</a>
—@F1
‘Excellent tempo’
Leclerc, on the rostrum for the second straight race, was inspired by Ferrari’s tempo, and its potential to take the battle to rival Pink Bull throughout its interval of dominance.
“We knew that pole place and the race win was doable as a result of we had superb tire degradation, superb tempo,” he mentioned. “That may be a very encouraging signal. Nonetheless, when you take a look at the primary three races, two out of the primary three races, they [Red Bull] had the higher hand within the race, so we nonetheless have lots of work to do.”
Norris mentioned it wasn’t a shock that he was capable of earn his first podium since Brazil final 12 months.
“I feel while you take a Pink Bull out of it, I might say no,” he mentioned. “I feel our tempo has been good all weekend. We put issues collectively very properly yesterday. We confirmed good future, high-fuel tempo on Friday, so I would not have mentioned we had no probability.”
The race completed beneath the digital security automobile, making certain there was no racing for many of the ultimate lap, after Mercedes driver George Russell crashed on flip seven. Pink Bull’s Sergio Perez closed out the highest 5 and made up only one place from the place he began in sixth, after he was handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Nico Hulkenberg in qualifying.
A tricky day for Max 😖<br><br>Verstappen explains the brake points that ended his race <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#F1</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusGP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#AusGP</a> <a href=”https://t.co/3yN9Oeyi7P”>pic.twitter.com/3yN9Oeyi7P</a>
—@F1
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso completed sixth on the highway however fell to eighth after the stewards gave him a 20-second time penalty and three penalty factors on his license, for “doubtlessly harmful” driving in battling Russell on the ultimate lap.
Alonso lifted off the throttle barely greater than 100 metres sooner than he had completed going into flip six through the race, whereas Russell behind him misplaced management and crashed on the exit of the nook.
DRIVER STANDINGS 📊 After 3/24 rounds <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#F1</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusGP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#AusGP</a> <a href=”https://t.co/Jk7NJaqmNk”>pic.twitter.com/Jk7NJaqmNk</a>
—@F1
Russell’s teammate Lewis Hamilton additionally did not end following a lap 17 engine failure for Mercedes’ first double non-finish for the reason that 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, ending its file of reliability.
Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda earned RB, the staff previously often called AlphaTauri, its first factors of the season – with six factors for seventh, having been elevated by Alonso’s penalty.
American staff Haas earned its first double factors end for the reason that 2022 Austrian Grand Prix, with Hulkenberg and teammate Kevin Magnussen closing out the top-10 in ninth and tenth, respectively.
Verstappen’s lead within the drivers’ standings has been decreased from 15 factors to 4, with Leclerc in second place. Verstappen has 51 factors and Leclerc 47.
