You won’t believe who won the F1 Australian GP after Verstappen’s shocking retirement!
Sainz finished ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc after Red Bull's Verstappen retired on lap four with an engine fire.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz has ended Red Bull's winning streak in Formula 1 by winning the Australian Grand Prix in a triumphant return to the circuit two weeks after an appendicitis operation, which kept him out of the race. previous in Saudi Arabia.
The Spaniard took advantage of Verstappen's early retirement – the first in two years – due to a serious mechanical failure.
Sainz, who started on the front row alongside Verstappen, kept his place at turn one but passed the Dutchman on lap two at turn nine to take the lead and took control once his rival retired two more laps. late due to a serious mechanical failure.
Sainz was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race last season.
In Melbourne, he held off teammate Charles Leclerc before a last-lap crash by Mercedes driver George Russell triggered a virtual safety car and eased the Spaniard's path to victory.
“It was a really good race. “I felt very good out there,” said Sainz excitedly.
“Of course, a little stiff and, especially physically, it wasn't the easiest, but I was lucky to be more or less alone and I could control my pace, control the tires, manage everything, and it wasn't the hardest race.” of everything.
“But very happy, very proud of the team and happy to be in a double with Charles here.”
CARLOS SAINZ WINS IN AUSTRALIA! 🤩
The Smooth Operator achieves sensational victory in Australia just two weeks after emergency surgery 👏👏👏#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/97Rt3AtbCL
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 24, 2024
Lando Norris was third for McLaren, dashing fourth-placed teammate Oscar Piastri's hopes of a first podium finish for an Australian driver in F1 racing.
Verstappen, winner in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, started from pole for the third time this season but retired on lap four with a brake problem when flames jumped from the right rear of his car. He was on a nine-fight winning streak.
It was Verstappen's first No Finish (DNF) since he retired from Albert Park in the 2022 race and ended his nine-game winning streak.
Verstappen said he basically drove with the handbrake on from the start.
“That's why I already felt that it was very strange to drive the car in some corners. “He was very agile,” said the Dutchman.
Red Bull has suffered two defeats in 26 races since the final round of 2022.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was also forced to retire early with a power unit problem after starting 11th on the grid following his worst qualifying in Melbourne since 2010.
Teammate Russell completed a dismal day for the Silver Arrows by skidding into the gravel at turn six and crashing into the barrier to wreck his car and bring out the virtual safety car.
Sergio Perez finished fifth for Red Bull, one ahead of Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, who started tenth on the grid and overtook seventh-placed teammate Lance Stroll.
Alonso was later summoned before the stewards for Russell's accident.
RACE CLASSIFICATION (LAP 58/58)
Drama from start to finish 😵#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/DdGtk9vNDr
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 24, 2024
