F1 News: Sainz Jr leads Ferrari 1-2 in winning 2024 Australian GP

With World Champion Max Verstappen out early with a brake fire, Carlos Sainz Jr. won the 2024 Australian GP ahead of his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Verstappen led from the pole, but his right rear brake stuck on during the first race lap, allowing Carlos Sainz Jr. to pass him and immediately Verstappen’s right rear started to smoke, requiring the Dutchman to limp around to the pits and retire with the right rear on fire.

Fresh from emergency Appendicitis surgery two weeks ago, Sainz controlled the race from the front to win, becoming the only driver other than Verstappen and Sergio Perez to win a race since 2022. Sainz also won the Singapore GP in 2023.

The only driver to beat Red Bull since November 2022 doesn’t have a job next year….. It’s an odd world that we live in.

“It was a really good race, physically it wasn’t the easiest but I was mostly on my own so I could manage the pace, manage the tires,” said Sainz.

“Life is crazy, what happened at the beginning of the year, the podium in Bahrain, the appendix in Saudi and the win here.

“I will recommend all the drivers to take [their appendix] out next winter!”

Leclerc finished 2nd and was busy managing the gap from behind to the McLaren of Lando Norris who completed the podium.

“It feels good mostly for the team of course, first and second didn’t happen since Bahrain 2022,” said Leclerc.

“Carlos Sainz has had an incredible weekend to come back from his surgery, he’s done an amazing race.

“In the first stint we had to protect from behind so had to stop earlier, as soon as we stopped at the first stop it was clear – but Carlos has done a better job all weekend and deserves the victory.”

“A very good day for us, very happy and proud of the team,” said 3rd place Norris.

“We missed out on Charles, I think our pace was better, but he undercut us in the first stint. I felt good, I felt I could manage the tires well. I wasn’t really expecting to be on the podium so very happy.

“It’s clear that this circuit suits us a little bit more, but it is still another step to Ferrari and Red Bull, we need to catch up but it is clear we are getting closer.”

Local hero Oscar Piastri came home 4th in the 2nd McLaren while Sergio Perez rounded out the top-5 in his #11 Red Bull Honda.

Fernando Alonso was 6th for Aston Martin after battling hard with George Russell’s Mercedes who crashed with a lap to go.

Russell was chasing Alonso, he got oh so close into Turn 6 and 7 and lost downforce, he had to brake more than expected, got oversteer and slid off into the gravel and the barriers. The gravel took the speed away, but it was still a big crash.

The stewards are investigating what happened to Russell at the end, with the potential suspicion that Alonso maybe brake tested his rival.

Russell’s crash promoted Kevin Magnussen into the points for Haas, so they get double points. Poor old Williams, after their torrid weekend, came home with Albon in P11 – just nine tenths of a second off of a world championship point, with Daniel Ricciardo 12th.

Despite copping a five-second penalty for crossing the pit exit line too early, Pierre Gasly finished 13th over the Sauber pair of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, who both suffered slow pitstops once again.

Lewis Hamilton was the 2nd car to not finish when his Mercedes Power Unit gave up the ghost.

2024 Australian GP Race Results

Note – Leclerc scored an additional point for setting the fastest lap of the race.