Sainz completed forward of teammate Charles Leclerc after Purple Bull’s Verstappen retired on the fourth lap with engine hearth.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz has ended Purple Bull’s System 1 profitable streak by profitable the Australian Grand Prix in a triumphant return to the circuit two weeks after appendicitis surgical procedure, which stored him out of the earlier race in Saudi Arabia.
The Spaniard took benefit of Verstappen’s early retirement – his first in two years – resulting from a fiery mechanical failure.
Sainz, who began on the entrance row alongside Verstappen, stored his place into flip one however handed the Dutchman on lap two at flip 9 for the lead and took management as soon as his rival retired two laps later with a fiery mechanical failure.
Sainz was the one non-Purple Bull driver to win a race final season.
In Melbourne, he held off teammate Charles Leclerc earlier than a final-lap crash by Mercedes driver George Russell triggered a digital security automobile and eased the Spaniard’s path to victory.
“It was a extremely good race. I felt actually good on the market,” mentioned a thrilled Sainz.
“In fact a bit stiff and particularly bodily it wasn’t the best however I used to be fortunate that I used to be roughly by myself and I might handle my tempo, handle the tyres, handle all the pieces, and it wasn’t the hardest race of all.
“However very completely happy, very pleased with the crew, and completely happy to be in a one-two with Charles right here.”
CARLOS SAINZ WINS IN AUSTRALIA! 🤩
The Easy Operator seals a sensational win Down Beneath simply two weeks after emergency surgical procedure 👏👏👏#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/97Rt3AtbCL
— System 1 (@F1) March 24, 2024
Lando Norris was third for McLaren, thwarting fourth-placed teammate Oscar Piastri’s hopes of a primary podium by an Australian driver on the F1 race.
Verstappen, the winner in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, began on pole for the third time this season however retired on the fourth lap with a brake downside as flames leapt out of the correct rear of his automobile. He was on a nine-race profitable streak.
It was Verstappen’s first Did Not End (DNF) since retiring from Albert Park within the 2022 race and ended his run of 9 successive race wins.
Verstappen mentioned he was principally driving with the handbrake on from the beginning.
“That’s why already it felt the automobile was actually bizarre to drive in some corners. It was simply very snappy,” mentioned the Dutchman.
Purple Bull have now suffered two defeats in 26 races courting again to the final spherical of 2022.
Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton was additionally compelled to retire early with an influence unit downside after beginning eleventh on the grid following his worst Melbourne qualifying since 2010.
His teammate Russell accomplished a dismal day for the Silver Arrows by skidding into gravel at flip six and crashing into the barrier to wreck his automobile and produce out the digital security automobile.
Sergio Perez completed fifth for Purple Bull, one forward of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who began tenth on the grid and edged seventh-placed teammate Lance Stroll.
Alonso was later summoned to the stewards over Russell’s crash.
RACE CLASSIFICATION (LAP 58/58)
Drama from begin to end 😵#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/DdGtk9vNDr
— System 1 (@F1) March 24, 2024
