The Dutch triple world champion and undisputed favorite for this year’s title as well, was forced – due to a brake problem in his RB20 – to abandon the race, which was held at the Albert Park track and was the third of this year’s world championship.
“P1 baby”
What a comeback drive from @Carlossainz55 🤩#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/lIlBFejFUc
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 24, 2024
After easily winning the first two races of the season, in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Verstappen secured his 35th pole position in Formula One and was understandably hoping to match his record of 10 consecutive wins from last season, surpassing the related table the German, Sebastian Vettel (including nine consecutive victories in 2013).
Carlos Sainz seals victory at incident-packed race in Melbourne 🇦🇺#F1 #AusGP Full report ⤵️
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 24, 2024
But in the second lap of the race, Saind overtook the Dutch “pilot”, who a little later found that “blue smoke” was coming out of his car.
“As soon as the lights went out, the right brake locked up, so the car was hard to drive from the start,” explained ‘Mad Max’, who went 43 consecutive GPs without giving up.
A dramatic day in Melbourne 😵
Max Verstappen’s chances of a record-equalling 10th straight victory went up in smoke 😫#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/XyG9RPS31V
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 24, 2024
The Dutchman remains at the top of the championship, but Leclerc has moved into second place, just four points behind the leader (51 points to 47).
As in Singapore last September – where Verstappen’s first 10-match winning streak ended – Sainz, who has just returned from appendicitis surgery 15 days ago, cruised to his third Formula One victory, following Singapore in 2023 and Silverstone in 2022.
“It was a very good race, physically it wasn’t the easiest, but I was largely alone so I could manage the pace and the tyres,” commented the Spanish driver at the finish.
Sainz and Leclerc gave Ferrari their first 1-2 since the 2022 Bahrain GP.
“It’s a good feeling, especially for the team,” said Leclerc, who finished ahead of Britain’s Lando Norris in a McLaren, while his team-mate, Australian Oscar Piastri, failed to make the podium in the end of the race marked by George Russell’s spectacular accident.
The British driver crashed into a protective wall before ending up on the left side of his car which stopped in the middle of the track. Fortunately, it was an accident without physical consequences for the experienced driver.
Among the highlights of the race, the fact that the British seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton – who is expected next year at Ferrari and in Saint’s place – withdrew due to an engine problem.
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#Ferrari #triumph #Verstappen #quit