Australian GP: Carlos Sainz leads Ferrari one-two from Charles Leclerc after Max Verstappen streak ends with retirement | F1 News

Carlos Sainz led Charles Leclerc as Ferrari sealed a one-two on the Australian Grand Prix following the early retirement of world championship chief Max Verstappen.

Verstappen was trying to equal his personal report 10-race profitable streak as he began from pole place in Melbourne, however accomplished solely three laps earlier than the brakes on his Purple Bull caught hearth and compelled him out of the competition.

Sainz, returning to motion having missed the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after present process appendix surgical procedure little greater than two weeks earlier, took full benefit of the chance as he calmly managed the race from the entrance to remain away from Leclerc.

The Spaniard, who ended Verstappen’s report streak in Singapore final yr, is the one driver aside from the Dutchman to have gained any of the final 21 F1 races.

Lando Norris took third to say his first podium of the season forward of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, whereas Verstappen’s Purple Bull team-mate Sergio Perez was unable to use stress to the leaders as he took fifth.

Fernando Alonso benefitted from pitting underneath a digital security automotive attributable to the retirement of Lewis Hamilton on lap 17 to take sixth, whereas the Brit’s team-mate George Russell accomplished a double DNF for Mercedes by crashing out on the ultimate lap when chasing the Aston Martin.

The incident that noticed Russell crash out remained underneath investigation after the race, with each he and Alonso known as to the stewards amid options Mercedes felt the Aston Martin driver ‘brake-tested’ the Brit.

Lance Stroll took seventh behind his team-mate, as Yuki Tsunoda accomplished a formidable weekend by claiming eighth for RB.

Haas duo Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen accomplished the highest 10, scoring essential Constructors’ Championship factors for the staff.

Verstappen, searching for a fourth successive drivers’ title, stays high of the standings however leads Leclerc, who claimed an additional level for setting the quickest lap of the race, by simply 4 factors, with Perez an extra level again in third.

Sainz is 11 factors again from Verstappen in fourth, however would doubtless be the world championship chief had it not been for his absence from spherical two in Jeddah. Ferrari have closed to inside 4 factors of Purple Bull on the high of the constructors’ standings.

Sainz completes exceptional return from surgical procedure

Sainz had arrived in Melbourne not sure of whether or not he would be capable of full the weekend having spent a lot of the time in mattress recovering since having an appendectomy.

The 29-year-old bought via Friday follow earlier than ramping up his efficiency to take second on the grid on Saturday, however how he would fare over the total 58-lap race distance remained in query.

He in the end confirmed no ill-effects, pouncing to overhaul Verstappen on the second lap because the Dutchman’s growing brake concern left the Purple Bull susceptible.

From there, Sainz’s victory by no means seemed doubtful, as he eased away from Lando Norris, earlier than persevering with to construct his lead as soon as team-mate Leclerc had leapfrogged the McLaren through the first spherical of pit stops.

Sainz was in a position to run the longest of the leaders on the primary stint, which gave him the benefit of getting brisker tyres from there on.

Leclerc, who claimed third in Saudi Arabia in Sainz’s absence, drove a stable race having began from fourth to seal Ferrari’s first one-two for the reason that 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix, however was unable to stress his team-mate.

Sainz’s vastly spectacular begin to the season comes after Ferrari determined to interchange him with Hamilton for the 2025 season, a choice that might come underneath scrutiny ought to the Spaniard preserve his chic type.

His performances are swiftly establishing him as maybe the prime free agent for the 2025 driver market, with Mercedes needing a substitute for Hamilton, and Perez’s Purple Bull contract expiring.

Verstappen retirement offers rivals hope

The way in which Purple Bull had dominated the opening two races as Verstappen led one-twos from Perez in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia had raised considerations the reigning constructors’ champions may go one higher than final season once they gained all however one of many 22 grands prix.

The fears of Purple Bull’s rivals have been solely heightened when Verstappen put an unconvincing follow exhibiting behind him to comfortably seal pole on Saturday.

All appeared properly because the Dutchman bought a clear begin to maintain the lead on the first nook, however Sainz stayed simply inside a second on the opening lap to stay inside DRS vary and placing zone.

It was at that time issues immediately went incorrect for Verstappen, with indicators of hassle first showing as Sainz swept across the outdoors of the RB20 within the DRS zone on the method to Flip 9 to take the lead.

It shortly turned clear Verstappen had a significant concern, as smoke began to emerge from the rear of his automotive, earlier than he finally slowed down and dropped via the sector.

“What we will see so removed from the information is that as quickly because the lights went off the right-rear brake simply caught on,” Verstappen informed Sky Sports activities F1.

“It simply brought on the injury and it saved on growing so it was additionally mainly driving with the handbrake on.”

He, maybe unwisely, introduced the automotive all the best way again to the pits as components flew off amid mini explosions as the fireplace on the proper rear of the automotive gathered depth.

Whereas Verstappen’s driving over the previous two seasons has been close to faultless, his exceptional dominance has been aided by sensible Purple Bull reliability, which has seen him go 43 races and not using a DNF, the final of which occurred to come back on the similar circuit in 2022.

With Perez additionally unable to hassle Ferrari and McLaren, neutrals will hope the end result alerts {that a} extra aggressive title battle is forward within the sport’s longest ever season of 24 races.

Nonetheless, there may be little doubt that Verstappen will begin as favorite when the season resumes in two weeks’ time on the Japanese Grand Prix, at a Suzuka circuit that has been one among Purple Bull’s greatest lately.

Components 1’s greatest ever season continues with the Japanese Grand Prix, dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 from April 5-7. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime

Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp!

Now you can begin receiving messages and alerts for the newest breaking sports activities information, evaluation, in-depth options and movies from our devoted WhatsApp channel!

Find out more here…