Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz gained the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, ending Red Bull’s profitable begin to the season after world champion Max Verstappen failed to complete.
The Spaniard, who had appendicitis surgical procedure two weeks in the past, took the chequered flag 2.3 seconds forward of teammate Charles Leclerc, with McLaren’s Lando Norris a daring third.
It was his third grand prix win and first since Singapore final yr.
“I’m happy to be in a one-two with Charles here. It shows that hard work pays off,” stated Sainz, who missed the final race in Saudi Arabia and was bedridden for per week afterward.
“Life sometimes is crazy … the podium in Bahrain, then the appendix, the comeback, the win. It’s a rollercoaster but I loved it and I’m extremely happy.”
While he celebrated, it was a disastrous day for pole-sitter Verstappen, who limped out with smoke billowing from his automotive after being handed by front-row associate Sainz on lap two.
The Dutchman blamed a brake concern for his first retirement in two years.
“What we can see so far from the data is that as soon as the lights went off the right-rear brake just stuck on,” he stated.
“It just caused the damage and it kept on increasing so it was also basically driving with the handbrake on.”
It was additionally a horror race for Lewis Hamilton in his inconsistent Mercedes, with the British seven-time world champion struggling engine failure on lap 17.
To add to Mercedes’ woes, teammate George Russell crashed closely on the final lap with the automotive ending on its aspect. Russell climbed out unscathed.
Verstappen emphatically gained the opening two grands prix of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, with each a Red Bull 1-2, and was the new favourite to make it three from three.
He had been aiming to match his personal document set final yr of 10 consecutive wins – yet one more than Sebastian Vettel in 2013 – and was unbeaten in his final 18 begins from pole place.
But whereas Verstappen was favored to win, the Ferraris had proved extremely aggressive in follow and qualifying on the quick and flowing Albert Park observe.
Despite not being totally match, Sainz, whose seat at Ferrari is to be taken by Hamilton subsequent yr, topped Q1 and Q2 to fireside a warning shot.
‘Incredible weekend’
Oscar Piastri within the different McLaren was fourth forward of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. Fernando Alonso was sixth forward of Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll.
RB’s Yuki Tsunoda was eighth, with Haas pair Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen rounding out the Top 10.
“It feels good mostly for the team of course, first and second didn’t happen since Bahrain 2022,” stated Leclerc. “Carlos has had an incredible weekend to come back from his surgery, he’s done an amazing race.”
Verstappen made a clear begin and pulled away from Sainz when the lights went out, with Norris holding onto third as they jostled for place.
But his lead did not final with Sainz opening his DRS on lap two to slice previous earlier than smoke began pouring out of the Red Bull and the Dutchman retired.
Sainz led from Norris and Leclerc earlier than the primary pit stops.
Sainz placed on contemporary rubber on lap 17 and had a 2.6-second lead from Leclerc on the midway mark, carefully adopted by Piastri and Norris.
With no Verstappen to deal with, the Spaniard steadily constructed the hole as Norris handed Piastri to maneuver into third.
Leclerc pitted once more and he got here again out in fifth on hards however shortly surged again to second.
Sainz additionally pitted for a second time and retained his slim result in cruise dwelling in entrance of 130,000 followers.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
