Ferrari’s Thrilling One-Two Finish at Australian Grand Prix
At the Australian Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz led his teammate Charles Leclerc as Ferrari secured a commanding one-two victory. The race took a dramatic turn with world championship leader Max Verstappen’s early retirement due to brake issues.
Verstappen, aiming to match his own 10-race winning streak, started from pole position but could only complete three laps before his Red Bull faced brake problems, forcing him out of contention.
Sainz, who missed the previous race in Saudi Arabia due to appendix surgery, capitalized on the opportunity, leading the race from the front and staying ahead of Leclerc. The Spaniard, known for ending Verstappen’s winning streak last year, showcased a calm and controlled performance.
The podium saw Lando Norris from McLaren securing third place, followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri in fourth. Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez finished fifth but couldn’t challenge the leaders.
Verstappen still leads the championship standings, closely followed by Leclerc who earned an additional point for the fastest lap. Sainz sits in fourth, just 11 points behind Verstappen, a gap that would have been narrower had he not missed the second race in Jeddah.
In the Constructors’ Championship, Ferrari has closed the gap to Red Bull to just four points after their dominant performance in Australia.
Additionally, the race saw Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso finishing sixth but dropped to eighth due to a penalty for potentially dangerous driving. This penalty also cost his teammate George Russell, who crashed out while chasing Alonso.
The top 10 of the Australian Grand Prix featured Lance Stroll in sixth, Yuki Tsunoda in seventh, and Haas drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen in ninth and tenth respectively, contributing valuable points to their team’s championship standings.
Sainz’s remarkable return from surgery added to the excitement of the race, with the 29-year-old overcoming uncertainties to secure a podium finish and contribute significantly to Ferrari’s success in Melbourne.