Carlos Sainz of Ferrari broke Red Bull's winning streak in Formula 1 by seizing the victory at the Australian Grand Prix. This triumph came just after missing the Saudi Arabian race due to an emergency appendectomy. Starting alongside Max Verstappen, Sainz overtook him on lap two at turn nine for the lead. Verstappen's early retirement due to a mechanical failure further solidified Sainz's position at the front.
Sainz's teammate Charles Leclerc followed closely behind, securing Ferrari's first 1-2 finish since the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix. Lando Norris of McLaren clinched third place, marking his first podium at Albert Park, with Australian Oscar Piastri, finishing in a strong fourth.
The race, however, wasn't without its drama. Mercedes driver George Russell crashed on turn seven, bringing out the virtual safety car for the final lap. Meanwhile, Red Bull's Sergio Pérez finished in fifth place after starting sixth, overcoming a grid penalty.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso initially finished sixth but was penalized for driving deemed "potentially dangerous" in a battle with Russell. This promoted Yuki Tsunoda to seventh, earning RB its first points of the season.
American team Haas also had a strong showing, with Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen finishing in ninth and 10th, respectively, marking their first double points finish since the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix.
Despite the setback, Verstappen maintains a narrow lead in the drivers' standings with 51 points, just four points ahead of Leclerc. The season promises to be full of twists and turns, with teams like Ferrari and McLaren showing they can challenge Red Bull's dominance.
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