Carlos Sainz takes advantage of Verstappen’s withdrawal to win in Australia

Espanyol overtook Max Verstappen on the second lap and did not relinquish the race lead; Dutchman and Hamilton forced to withdraw

Carlos Sainz won the Australian Grand Prix this Sunday, in what was the Spaniard’s return to the competition after missing the Saudi Arabian GP due to appendicitis.

The Spaniard started very well and managed to overtake Max Verstappen, who started from pole position in Melbourne on the third lap. The Ferrari driver did not relinquish the lead in the race despite attempts to catch up with Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, who occupied second and third positions, respectively. It is Ferrari’s first 1st/2nd since the 2022 Bahrain GP.

The race was also marked by the withdrawal of the three-time world champion on the fourth lap of the race, due to a problem with the rear brakes, which even caused flames to break out on the right wheel.

Dutchman retired on the fourth lap of the race

Verstappen explains mechanical problem that led to retirement in Australia

Neerlandês reported that he had a problem with the right rear brake, which started at the start of the race; cause is still unknown

Verstappen was not the only world champion to suffer mechanical problems, as 11 laps later, Lewis Hamilton’s engine lost power, also leading to the seven-time champion’s retirement.

And it was a day to forget for Mercedes. George Russell was in seventh chasing Fernando Alonso, but on the last lap he had a violent accident. In this way, the German manufacturer leaves Melbourne without any points.

Conversely, McLaren recorded the best weekend of the season. In addition to Norris’ podium, the man of the house, Oscar Piastri, finished in fourth place.

Worthy of note is Yuki Tsunoda’s eighth place, in RB, and also the 9th and 10th places of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, respectively. Alexander Albon, who took over from Logan Sargeant, was on the verge of scoring (11th). Hours after the race ended, Fernando Alonso was penalized with 20 seconds due to a maneuver with Russell and fell from sixth to eighth place.

As predicted, the change in compounds that Pirelli made available forced a change in strategy for the race. Historically a race that only required one stop, this Sunday the winning plan was defined with two stops, starting with a set of medium tires and two stints with the hard ones.

Carlos Sainz thus achieved the third victory of his career, after triumphs in the 2022 British GP and the 2023 Singapore GP.

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