The Australian Grand Prix promised a smooth start-finish victory, but ultimately brought an exciting, twisty race, which was won by Carlos Sainz with a sensational performance.
After the start, it really seemed like this could be the most boring race of the season - life made sure that it didn't happen. Max Verstappen got off to a flawless start, but Carlos Sainz caught up with him, and on the second lap, right at the first DRS opportunity, he overtook the Dutchman. What was striking was that it was too easy... Something was wrong with Verstappen, whose car started to smoke, and after a few corners, thick clouds of exhaust fumes were pouring out of it.
The Red Bull driver was forced to retire from the race due to a brake failure, giving his opponents an unexpected chance. Meanwhile, Sainz took the lead, who smoothly increased his advantage, and his teammate caught up with him shortly after. We slowly reached the first pit stops, opened by Lewis Hamilton. However, the Briton did not last long on the tough mixed stage, as he was also forced to retire due to an engine failure. The VSC phase ordered due to the incident suited Fernando Alonso best, who found himself behind the immediate front row thanks to his clever pit stop. Sergio Perez could also tell a lot about the fight behind the immediate front row, in whose hands Red Bull Racing no longer seems like a world-beating car. Not so with Sainz at the helm of Scuderia Ferrari, who had already built up such an advantage for itself that practically only a technical error could have deprived him of victory.
McLaren also built up nicely, quietly occupying 2nd-3rd positions and Lando Norris - Oscar Piastri registered for the first podium of the season. This was the only question left to be decided in the last laps of the race, because all other dice had been cast earlier. Accordingly, Carlos Sainz, demonstrating considerable sporting performance, won the Australian Grand Prix ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, while Max Verstappen can be annoyed…
