This was an Australian Grand Prix full of drama and shocking retirements, leaving the field wide open for exciting competition.
Once reigning three-time world champion Max Verstappen was forced to retire his car, with its right rear tire on fire, the gloves were off for the rest of the field, with Ferrari particularly sniffing out a rare race victory. .
The Italian team has looked fast all weekend and benefited with Carlos Sainz taking the win, while his teammate Charles Leclerc finished second.
It was a disastrous weekend for Mercedes, which saw both drivers fail to finish, and the investigation continues into how things unfolded for the Silver Arrows.
Mail Sport’s NATHAN SALT gives his winners and losers from the Australian Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz (left) toasted victory at the Australian Open after a brilliant day for Ferrari
It was a nightmare afternoon in Melbourne for Max Verstappen as he was forced to retire
WINNERS
Carlos Sainz – 9
To come back from appendix surgery and win a Formula One grand prix in two weeks is truly extraordinary.
Some will take a bit of the shine off his victory given that Verstappen was a non-factor after his retirement, but that would be grossly unfair.
An impressive (and deserved) victory that should send a signal to team managers across the paddock. Sign this man up for 2025.
Lando Norris – 8
He may not have had enough to overtake the Ferraris in front of him, but it was a splendid drive from Lando Norris.
When McLaren gave orders to the team for Oscar Piastri to let his teammate through, the home crowd was not at all happy to see the popular Australian playing a supporting role.
But McLaren knew what they were doing and the fastest driver eventually secured them a podium. Bravo.
Lando Norris (left) impressed by finishing third, but it was all down to the determination of Sainz (right)
Yuki Tsunoda – 7
This was a performance by Tsunoda in Australia that should not be overlooked.
The Japanese driver has had a good start in 2024, but here are his first points of the season with an eighth place finish.
“Yes, I am very happy, the first points for our new team were not easy, but at the same time we surely deserved it,” he said.
“The last two races we had pace, but we had very frustrating races, so I’m very happy that we were able to score points here.”
Nico Hulkenburg + Kevin Magnussen – 7
We are combining the Haas drivers, as their ninth and tenth finishes make it the first time since 2022 that the team has achieved a double finish.
It may seem like a low bar for those who support a driver from the start, but there will be plenty of celebration in the Haas garage tonight, and rightly so.
It was the first time since 2022 that Haas had both drivers finish inside the top 10 in points.
LOSERS
Max Verstappen – 1
While he could have done very little to stop him, this went as wrong as it could have for the world championship leader.
I could have had a nightmare last night and this would have been worse.
His car caught fire after three laps and he couldn’t do anything from there.
“This happens,” he said. That’s right, Max.
Lewis Hamilton – 2
Things didn’t go much better for Verstappen’s old rival Lewis Hamilton once his engine failed and he was sent back to the garage.
There is no escaping the feeling that this is going to be another miserable season for Hamilton in what will be his last with Mercedes.
I bet he enjoyed watching his future new team, Ferrari, achieve the double…
George Russell crashed on the final lap meaning Mercedes suffered two retirements
Mercedes became furious and claimed that Fernando Alonso had done a brake test on Russell’s car
George Russell – 4
Hamilton’s teammate was on course to finish seventh on the final lap and while that wouldn’t have been anything to write home about, it got even worse when he crashed chasing Fernando Alonso.
Mercedes is furious and claims that Alonso gave Russell a brake test.
The matter is now in the hands of the commissioners.
Sergio Perez – 5
Given that he is in the best car on the grid and Verstappen was out of the race, much more was expected of Pérez than his fifth place.
It just shows that the car alone cannot achieve it.