The 2024 Australian Grand Prix saw Carlos Sainz of Ferrari take the top spot on the podium, followed by his teammate Charles Leclerc in second place and Lando Norris of McLaren in third.
Q: Carlos, what an incredible result. This was the best performance we could have hoped for. Firstly, how do you feel after your recent appendicitis? You seem to be in good shape, but please share.
Carlos SAINZ: Thank you very much. It was a fantastic race. I felt great out there. Physically, I was a bit stiff, but luckily I had a clear track ahead of me, so I could control my pace, manage my tires, and everything else. It wasn’t the most challenging race, but I’m extremely happy and proud of the team. It’s great to have a 1-2 finish with Charles here. It shows that our hard work pays off. Life can be unpredictable, but I enjoyed the roller coaster ride and I’m really happy with the outcome.
Q: It must have been easier for you to lead the race with your appendicitis and pain. It’s a fantastic feeling.
CS: I think I’ll recommend all the drivers to have their appendix removed this winter!
Q: When you were behind Max at the start of the race, did you notice any signs of struggle from him when you overtook him? It seemed like you easily passed him once you had the DRS. Did you see anything?
CS: I’m not sure. I felt like I could keep up with him on the first lap and tried to get within DRS range to put some pressure on him. He lost control of the car at Turn 3, and that was my opportunity to get closer and make the overtake. After that, he seemed to struggle with his brakes, and that was it for him. It’s a shame because I think we could have had a great battle for P1 today. But I’m happy to take the win. He’s had plenty of wins already. So, I’m happy to be back here.
Q: Absolutely. You won the race fair and square. You know that. So, at what point did you realize that you had a chance to win?
CS: I think from lap two, when I was leading, I knew that with the pace I had shown in practice, I could do it, especially with a clear track and the ability to manage my tires. I knew I could make it happen. Of course, there was always the risk of a Safety Car or red flag, but luckily it was a clean race. I’m sorry for George’s accident at the end. It looked serious. I hope he’s okay. But I was able to finish the race, secure the win, and it feels amazing.
Q: Carlos, I’m sure you’ll celebrate with the Ferrari team after this 1-2 finish. Congratulations once again. Charles, congratulations to you too on your fantastic second place finish. It must be a great feeling for the whole team and for you personally.
Charles LECLERC: Thank you. It feels really good, especially for the team. It’s been a while since we had a 1-2 finish like this, since Bahrain 2022. It’s amazing to achieve that. Carlos has had an incredible weekend, coming back strong after his surgery. He did an amazing race. As for me, I struggled a bit more in the second stint with the tires. But overall, it’s a great result for the team.
Q: Did you ever think you could challenge Carlos or was it clear from the start that you couldn’t catch him but could hold off the McLarens?
CL: Not really. In the first stint, we had to defend our position, so we had to pit earlier. From that point on, Carlos was very fast, and I was struggling with my tires. Once we made the first stop, it was clear to me that Carlos was in a better position. He did a great job all weekend, and he definitely deserved the victory. I’m happy for him and for the team. It’s a good haul of points. We came into this weekend aiming to maximize our points, and we did just that.
Q: Lando, congratulations on your podium finish. It must feel great to be the second-best team this weekend. Did you ever think you could secure P2?
Lando NORRIS: Thank you. It was a fantastic day for us. I’m very happy and proud of the team. P3 and P4 is a significant number of points in the championship. We missed out on Charles, but I think our pace was better. He undercut us in the first stint, so there was a slight hope for P2. Our pace was strong enough today. But Ferrari and Carlos did an outstanding job. They’ve been fast all weekend. I felt good and managed the tires well. It’s a pleasant surprise to be on the podium.
Q: You were expected to be on the podium. McLaren has shown great potential. You must be confident about the team’s performance in the future.
LN: Yes, this circuit suits us well. We were able to unlock some speed and push harder. However, Ferrari and Red Bull are still ahead of us. We need to catch up and close the gap. But we’re getting closer, as today’s result shows. A big thanks to everyone at McLaren. We’re getting closer to our goals, and it’s nice to be back on the podium. Hopefully, there are many more podium finishes to come.
Q: Carlos, congratulations on your remarkable victory. Given all the challenges you’ve faced in the past two weeks, what does this win mean to you?
CS: Thank you very much. It’s not just about the past two weeks. It’s about the entire start of the year and everything that has happened. From the news of not renewing my contract to getting fit for the season, the podium in Bahrain, the appendix surgery, the comeback, and now the win. It’s been a roller coaster ride, but I’ve loved every moment of it. This win is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole team. I’m just letting it sink in and enjoying the moment.
Q: How apprehensive were you about your fitness for a full race distance of 58 laps?
CS: I was confident about the first half of the race because it was similar to the laps I did during practice. The second half was a bit unknown, but once I had a comfortable lead, I could manage everything. I could manage myself, the tires, and the pressure. It became a lot easier. Towards the end, I was a bit stiff and tired, but it didn’t slow me down significantly.
Q: Carlos, can you share more about the race, especially the opening laps and the moment you overtook Max Verstappen for the lead?
CS: I had a decent start from the dirty side of the grid, but I couldn’t put pressure on Max into Turn 1. The first lap and a half were strategic for me. I wanted to protect my tires from graining but also stay within DRS range of Max. He made a mistake at Turn 3, and I saw an opportunity to get closer and overtake him. After that, I’m not sure when his brake issues started, but passing him felt great, whether he had issues or not. It’s always tough to overtake Max and the Red Bull, but if you can put them under pressure, you have a chance to succeed.
Q: Do you think Ferrari has closed the gap to Red Bull this weekend, or was it a matter of maximizing your package?
CS: Our car worked really well this weekend, but it will be challenging to maintain this level at every track until we bring upgrades to close the gap we saw in Bahrain and Jeddah. In Australia, from the beginning, I felt like we had a car capable of winning the race. Even though Red Bull was quick and on pole, their time wasn’t out of reach for us. We have tracks where we are strong, and this year our race pace seems better even on tracks where we struggled previously. With a good development program, I hope we can challenge Red Bull more often.
Q: Carlos, congratulations on your win. Charles, congratulations on your second place. This is Ferrari’s first 1-2 finish in Melbourne in almost 20 years. How important is this result for the team’s morale and to confirm that the SF24 is competitive?
CL: It’s incredibly important. We haven’t had the pace to compete with Red Bull for a long time. We knew from the first practice session that pole position and the race win were possible because we had excellent tire degradation and pace. It’s a very encouraging sign. However, in the first three races, Red Bull had the upper hand. We still have a lot of work to do, but that’s what we’re focused on as a team. Whenever we have an opportunity to win a race, we need to seize it, and that’s what we did this weekend. Carlos did a fantastic job, and I’m happy with my second place and the fastest lap. We maximized our results in the first three races, and we need to continue doing that until our car can consistently outperform the Red Bull, especially in the race.
Q: Charles, you got the fastest lap today. Was there anything more you could have done to challenge Carlos for the win?
CL: I could have been better. I didn’t perform at my best in qualifying yesterday. In the second stint, I struggled with graining on the front left tire after the Virtual Safety Car. The last stint was better, but it wasn’t enough. Carlos was simply better this weekend. But that’s the nature of our competition. We push each other, and sometimes he’s better, and sometimes I’m better. It’s exciting to have such a fast teammate, and he was on top of his game this weekend. Congratulations to Carlos.
Q: Lando, congratulations on your 14th career podium. Was this result unexpected for you?
LN: Thank you. It was a great day for us. I’m very happy and proud of the team. P3 and P4 earn a lot of points in the championship, so that’s a significant achievement. We missed out on Charles, but I believe our pace was better. He undercut us in the first stint, so there was a small hope for P2. Our pace was strong today, but Ferrari and Carlos were exceptional. They were fast all weekend. I felt good and managed the tires well. It’s a pleasant surprise to be on the podium.
Q: Lando, you were expected to be on the podium. McLaren has shown great potential. Are you confident about the team’s future performance?
LN: Yes, this circuit suited us well, and we were able to unlock some speed. However, Ferrari and Red Bull are still ahead of us. We need to catch up and close the gap. But today’s result is a positive sign of progress. We’re getting closer to our targets, and it’s great to be back on the podium. Hopefully, we can continue this momentum and achieve many more podium finishes.
Q: Carlos, congratulations on your incredible victory. Given all the challenges you’ve faced in the past two weeks, how does this win impact your future in Formula 1?
CS: Thank you. It can only help. It’s definitely a positive outcome. However, I’m still without a contract for next year. This win might improve my situation, but I race for myself, not to prove my value to others. I race to prove to myself that I can win when given a competitive car and the opportunity. That’s my mentality, and I’ll continue to focus on my performance for the rest of the year.
Q: Carlos, do you sometimes feel that you don’t receive the credit you deserve?
CS: I don’t worry about receiving credit from people who don’t have an insight into the sport or don’t know much about it. I care about the people who work with me, who have seen my speed, my work ethic, and my dedication. People who know the sport well and understand what I bring to the table. I don’t feel underrated by them, and that’s what matters to me.
Q: Carlos, Charles, and Lando, as teammates and friends, do you think Carlos is underrated?
CL: Carlos is one of the highest-rated drivers in the paddock. Everyone knows his worth, and he has consistently shown his strength every time he’s been in a Formula 1 car. He’s proven himself multiple times, and I don’t think he’s underrated at all.
LN: I agree with Charles. Carlos is highly regarded among those who know him and have worked with him. He’s a dedicated and talented driver. People who underrate him probably don’t have the insight or knowledge of what he’s capable of. He’s proven himself time and time again.
CS: I appreciate the kind words from my teammates. It means a lot coming from them. People who know the sport well and have seen my performance and work ethic understand my value. I don’t feel underrated by them.