Ferrari's Carlos Sainz emerged victorious at the Australian Grand Prix, halting Red Bull's winning streak in Formula 1. Sainz capitalized on Max Verstappen's early retirement to secure the win, bouncing back after missing the previous race in Saudi Arabia due to an emergency appendectomy.
Starting on the front row alongside Verstappen, Sainz maintained his position into turn one and later overtook the Dutchman on lap two at turn nine to claim the lead. Verstappen's race came to an abrupt end two laps later due to a mechanical failure, extinguishing his nine-race winning streak.
Sainz's teammate Charles Leclerc secured second place, marking Ferrari's first 1-2 finish since the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix. McLaren's Lando Norris clinched third place, earning his first podium at Albert Park, while Australian driver Oscar Piastri finished fourth.
Sainz, who will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari from 2025, expressed his elation at securing his third career win against all odds. He described the rollercoaster journey from health setbacks to victory as a thrilling experience.
Leclerc highlighted Ferrari's promising pace and ability to challenge Red Bull during their period of dominance, emphasizing the team's continuous improvement. Norris, reflecting on his podium finish, credited the team's strong performance throughout the weekend.
The race concluded under the virtual safety car after Mercedes driver George Russell's crash at turn seven. Red Bull's Sergio Pérez secured fifth place, while Fernando Alonso faced a penalty for his driving conduct, dropping to eighth position.
Yuki Tsunoda earned RB its first points of the season with a seventh-place finish, and Haas achieved a double points finish with Hülkenberg and Magnussen in ninth and tenth place, respectively.
Verstappen's lead in the drivers' standings narrowed to four points, with Leclerc in second place. Verstappen currently holds 51 points, with Leclerc close behind at 47.
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