Max Verstappen’s dominant run in Formula 1 came to an unexpected halt at the Australian Grand Prix, allowing Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to claim a 1-2 finish. The race at Albert Park was eventful, with Mercedes experiencing a double retirement and Fernando Alonso receiving a penalty for dangerous driving. With 19 starters and three retirements, let’s see how the drivers fared in this high attrition affair.
Carlos Sainz, who had recently undergone surgery for appendicitis, made a remarkable comeback and ended Verstappen’s winning streak. Despite not being at full fitness, Sainz outperformed Verstappen and secured his third career win in style.
Charles Leclerc, Sainz’s Ferrari teammate, had a slight disadvantage in qualifying and couldn’t challenge for the victory with Verstappen out of the race. However, he managed to fend off McLaren’s Lando Norris and secured a solid second-place finish.
Lando Norris had a strong performance in Melbourne, earning his 14th F1 podium. Although he struggled in practice, Norris showcased his skills in qualifying and managed to claim the final step on the podium.
Oscar Piastri had a disappointing qualifying session, but he made up for it during the race. Despite surrendering a position to Norris due to team orders, Piastri finished in fourth place, a commendable result for his second year in F1.
Sergio Perez faced a setback with a grid penalty, which hindered his chances of returning to the podium. Although he managed to overtake Alonso and Russell, he couldn’t pass the McLaren duo due to debris caught under his car’s floor.
Max Verstappen secured an unexpected pole position in Melbourne but suffered a brake fire on Lap 4, ending his race prematurely. The Australian Grand Prix was a relatively quiet weekend for Lance Stroll, but he managed to secure a solid result and accumulate valuable points.
Fernando Alonso had a disappointing qualifying performance but fought hard during the race. However, his defensive maneuvers against Piastri resulted in a penalty, costing him sixth place, which was inherited by his teammate Stroll.
Yuki Tsunoda showcased his skills once again, outperforming his Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo. While Ricciardo struggled in qualifying and the race, Tsunoda delivered a mature performance and secured a respectable result.
Nico Hulkenberg faced difficulties in qualifying after being impeded by Perez. However, he made the most of the race and fought at the front of the midfield, earning a valuable points finish for Haas.
Williams encountered trouble early on in the weekend, with a shunt in FP1 and a lack of spare chassis. Despite these setbacks, Alex Albon managed to qualify 12th but couldn’t secure points due to the car’s lack of pace.
Alpine continued to struggle in Melbourne, with Pierre Gasly being eliminated in Q1. Esteban Ocon showed promise by reaching Q2, but his chances of scoring points were dashed by an early pit stop.
Valtteri Bottas had a troubled start to the season but showed improvement in Melbourne. However, pit stop issues cost him valuable time and hindered his chances of scoring points.
Guanyu Zhou’s chances of reaching Q2 were ruined when he damaged his front wing. Starting from the pitlane and facing slow pit stops, Zhou couldn’t recover and secure a strong result.
George Russell had a promising race, running in seventh place and closing in on Alonso. However, a last-lap incident with Alonso cost him a solid result, highlighting his lapses in concentration.
Lewis Hamilton continued to struggle with the car’s performance in Melbourne, failing to make it to Q3. His race was cut short on Lap 15 due to a loss of oil pressure while chasing Lance Stroll.