Max Verstappen’s pursuit of a record-breaking 10th consecutive Formula 1 victory came to an abrupt halt during the Australian Grand Prix’s third lap.
Starting from pole position, Verstappen initially seized the lead, only to be overtaken by eventual race victor Carlos Sainz. Soon after losing his lead, Verstappen’s car emitted smoke from its right rear, signaling trouble. Gradually decelerating, he made his way into the pits, forced to retire due to an explosion of the right rear brake rotor.
This marked Verstappen’s first retirement since the third race of the 2022 season, coincidentally also at the Australian Grand Prix. Following that setback two years prior in Melbourne, Verstappen had triumphed in an impressive 36 out of 44 races.
His dominance extended to claiming 19 out of 22 victories en route to securing a third consecutive F1 championship in 2023, with two wins already under his belt in the 2024 season.
Verstappen quickly acknowledged sensing issues with the right rear brake as the race commenced.
In Verstappen’s absence, Sainz navigated the remainder of the race unchallenged. Despite two virtual safety car periods interrupting proceedings – the first prompted by Lewis Hamilton’s engine failure and the second by his Mercedes teammate’s mishap on the last lap – no competitor threatened Sainz’s lead.
However, drama ensued as George Russell’s pursuit of Fernando Alonso for sixth place ended abruptly with a crash on the penultimate lap. Consequently, the Virtual Safety Car was deployed while Sainz was on his final lap, clinching victory amidst the chaos.
Sainz entered the race weekend as the most recent non-Verstappen victor and the sole non-Red Bull driver to achieve victory in 2023. His triumph, against the backdrop of extraordinary circumstances, is particularly notable.
Having missed the preceding race in Saudi Arabia due to an emergency appendectomy stemming from appendicitis diagnosed during the race weekend, Sainz faced additional uncertainties with no confirmed ride for the 2025 season. Hamilton’s imminent arrival at Ferrari in 2024 further complicates Sainz’s future prospects.
Nevertheless, Sainz’s remarkable track record over the past three seasons underscores his prowess as one of the series’ top drivers.
In a Ferrari-dominated podium, Charles Leclerc secured second place, while McLaren’s Lando Norris clinched third ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri.
Race Results:
1. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
2. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3. Lando Norris, McLaren
4. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
5. Sergio Perez, Red Bull
6. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
7. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
8. Yuki Tsunoda, RB
9. Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
10. Kevin Magnussen, Haas
11. Alex Albon, Williams
12. Daniel Ricciardo, RB
13. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
14. Valtteri Bottas, Kick Sauber
15. Zhou Guanyu, Kick Sauber
16. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
Not classified: George Russell (Mercedes), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
