Technical problems in the cars removed world champion Verstappen and Hamilton from the race, while Russell suffered a serious crash on the last lap
24 mar
2024
– 05h11
(updated at 8:05 am)
Carlos Sainz wins the Australian GP
Photo: Ferrari / Twitter
In an exciting race, which saw the withdrawal of world champion Max Verstappen, Briton Lewis Hamilton and a crash by George Russell, Ferrari had its first victory of the season with a double. Ferrari’s Spaniard Carlos Sainz took the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix title in the early hours of this Sunday, 24th. Second and third place went to Leclerc, also from Ferrari, and Norris, from McLaren.
Now, with another week of break, the next competition will be at the Japanese GP, at the Suzuka Circuit, which takes place in the early hours of April 7th, at 2 am Brasília time.
Three-time Red Bull champion, until then undefeated in a sequence of nine victories, Max Verstappen, faced challenges right at the beginning of the race with technical problems in the car and even pointed out on the radio the loss of direction, giving Sainz a second advantage. Soon after the smoke came, Verstappen suffered his first crash in the last two years and abandoned the race when he went to the pits. Sainz took the lead and continued with a fierce battle for seconds with Leclerc and Norris until the end.
Between turns 10 and 11, Hamilton also had technical problems with the engine, stopped, took the car to the grass, avoiding an interruption of the race with a safety car and abandoned the race. Leaving Mercedes with just his team partner, George Russell.
With five laps left in the race, the podium seemed consolidated. The difference of 5s between Sainz and Leclerc, followed by Norris at 2s7, with an advantage of 11s2 over McLaren, meant that the dispute focused on sixth place between Alonso and Russell. Fifth place remained calm in the hands of Perez.
On the last lap, to Mercedes’ surprise, George Russell had a very violent crash. Russell was going after Alonso when he lost the car in turn six and went into the wall in a heavy impact. The car left the ground after one of the wheels loosened by the impact became stuck. The Briton and last Mercedes representative soon announced: “I’m fine”, and was taken off the track in the F1 medical car. The race ended under a virtual safety car.
With the award, Sainz achieves his third career victory. He also occupied the top of the podium at the British GPs in 2022, and Singapore, in 2023. The champion did not compete in the Saudi Arabian GP due to surgery to remove his appendix and now, in Australia, he added 25 more points that allow him climb the F1 table, which now occupies fourth position,
Leclerc, even second on the podium in Australia, remains above Sainz in F1 and rises to second place with 47 points, just behind Max, who has 51 points.
“It was a really great race, I felt really good there on the track. Physically it wasn’t the easiest, but I was lucky to be getting back on track and being able to manage my pace. I’m really happy for the team, it shows that the work Hard work is rewarded. Since the beginning of the year, the podium in Bahrain, the appendicitis, it’s been a rollercoaster, but I’m extremely happy. And I recommend all riders to have it removed next winter!” in champion speech.
In an interview with F1, Verstappen explained what happened to his car: “As soon as the lights went out, the right brake locked up, so the car was difficult to drive from the start – very unstable. If the brake is stuck, it won’t It doesn’t help at all,” he said.
Check out the final classification of the F1 Australian GP:
- Did not complete: George Russell (ING/Mercedes), Lewis Hamilton (ING/Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (HOL/RBR)
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