The 2024 Formula 1 season continued to deliver high-octane drama at the Australian Grand Prix, where Carlos Sainz emerged victorious, marking a significant win for Ferrari. The Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne witnessed a thrilling race that saw Sainz beat his teammate Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris to the top step of the podium.
The race began with Max Verstappen, the polesitter, leading the pack into Turn 1. However, his lead was short-lived as Sainz, starting second, took advantage of the DRS on lap 2 to overtake Verstappen into Turn 9. The excitement was palpable as Sainz began to pull away, only for the crowd to witness Verstappen’s Red Bull succumb to mechanical issues, with smoke billowing from the car, leading to his early retirement.
The incident blew the race wide open, with Lewis Hamilton, who had started on soft tires, being the first of the frontrunners to pit for hard tires. This triggered a series of pitstops that shuffled the pack, with McLaren’s strategy causing Norris to drop to fourth, while Leclerc moved up to second behind his Ferrari teammate Sainz.
As the laps unfolded, Hamilton’s race came to an abrupt end due to an engine issue, prompting a brief deployment of the virtual safety car. This allowed Fernando Alonso to make a strategic pitstop, climbing to fifth place for Aston Martin.
Sainz, undeterred at the front, continued to extend his lead over Leclerc. Meanwhile, McLaren instructed their drivers to swap positions, giving Norris the opportunity to chase down Leclerc for second place. Despite getting close, Norris couldn’t bridge the gap to Leclerc, who managed his tires well to secure a comfortable second place.
After 58 laps, Sainz crossed the finish line with a 2.3-second lead over Leclerc, securing a memorable 1-2 finish for Ferrari. Norris completed the podium in third, with Australian Oscar Piastri finishing an impressive fourth in his home race.
Sergio Perez, who had started sixth due to a grid penalty, finished in fifth place for Red Bull Racing. His race was overshadowed by the absence of his teammate Verstappen, who had been forced to retire early on.
The race wasn’t without its drama, as George Russell experienced a significant crash on the final lap, which saw his Mercedes overturn after hitting the barriers. Fortunately, he was unharmed, but the incident brought out the VSC, freezing the positions until the checkered flag.
The race also saw Alonso receive a post-race penalty, dropping him from sixth to eighth, while Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda benefitted from the reshuffle. The Haas team had a positive day, with Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen rounding out the top 10.
In terms of fastest laps, Leclerc set the quickest time on lap 56, followed closely by Norris and Sainz. The Australian Grand Prix also marked the first non-Red Bull win of the season, with Sainz taking full advantage of Verstappen’s misfortune.
The tyre strategy played a crucial role in the race’s outcome, with most drivers opting for a two-stop strategy. Sainz’s victory was a testament to his skill and Ferrari’s strategy, as he managed his tires across multiple stops to secure his third career win.
The dust settled on a dramatic race day as the Ferrari team rejoiced in their triumph. Sainz’s remarkable journey from a hospital bed to the top of the podium in just two weeks added to the narrative of his success. The 2024 F1 season remains thrilling, and the Australian Grand Prix has set the stage for more exciting races ahead.
