Carlos Sainz led Charles Leclerc as Ferrari sealed a one-two on the Australian Grand Prix following the early retirement of world championship chief Max Verstappen.
Verstappen was making an attempt to equal his personal document 10-race successful streak as he began from pole place in Melbourne, however accomplished solely three laps earlier than the brakes on his Purple Bull caught hearth and compelled him out of the competition.
Sainz, returning to motion having missed the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after present process appendix surgical procedure little greater than two weeks earlier, took full benefit of the chance as he calmly managed the race from the entrance to remain away from Leclerc.
The Spaniard, who ended Verstappen’s document streak in Singapore final yr, is the one driver aside from the Dutchman to have received any of the final 21 F1 races.
Lando Norris took third to say his first podium of the season forward of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, whereas Verstappen’s Purple Bull team-mate Sergio Perez was unable to use strain to the leaders as he took fifth.
Fernando Alonso benefitted from pitting below a digital security automobile brought on by the retirement of Lewis Hamilton on lap 17 to take sixth, whereas the Brit’s team-mate George Russell accomplished a double DNF for Mercedes by crashing out on the ultimate lap when chasing the Aston Martin.
Lance Stroll took seventh behind his team-mate, as Yuki Tsunoda accomplished a powerful weekend by claiming eighth for RB.
Haas duo Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen accomplished the highest 10, scoring essential Constructors’ Championship factors for the crew.
Verstappen, in search of a fourth successive drivers’ title, stays prime of the standings however leads Leclerc, who claimed an additional level for setting the quickest lap of the race, by simply 4 factors, with Perez an additional level again in third.
Sainz is 11 factors again from Verstappen in fourth, however would possible be the world championship chief had it not been for his absence from spherical two in Jeddah. Ferrari have closed to inside 4 factors of Purple Bull on the prime of the constructors’ standings.
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