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Posted: 2024-03-24 02:58:57

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz has won the Australian Grand Prix, after Max Verstappen retired after five laps with his rear brakes catching fire.

Sainz headed teammate Charles Leclerc in second, with McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finishing third and fourth.

The Spaniard, who had his appendix removed 16 days ago, picked up his first win since last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

"It was a really good race, physically it wasn't the easiest but I was mostly on my own so I could manage the pace, manage the tyres," Sainz said.

"Life is crazy, what happened at the beginning of the year, the podium in Bahrain, the appendix in Saudi and the win here.

"I will recommend all the drivers to take [their appendix] out next winter."

Carlos Sainz driving his Ferrari F1 car in Melbourne during a race

Carlos Sainz of Ferrari during the Australian Grand Prix.(AAP: Joel Carrett)

Starting second on the grid, he took the lead from Verstappen on the second lap, before Verstappen retired with a rear brake failure that caused the Dutchman's car to catch fire.

Sainz was flawless for the next 56 laps, never looking threatened for the race win.

The race finished under a virtual safety car after Mercedes George Russell crashed on the penultimate lap.

That crash capped off a horror race for Mercedes, which had Lewis Hamilton retire with an engine failure earlier on.

The Ferrari first and second is the first time the famous Italian team has taken the top two spots since the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2022.

"It feels good mostly for the team of course, first and second didn't happen since Bahrain 2022," Leclerc said post race.

"Carlos has had an incredible weekend to come back from his surgery, he's done an amazing race."

Verstappen's lead in the world championship is now just four points to Leclerc, after the triple world champion retired early.

He said his right-rear brake was stuck from the start, ultimately leading to a failure and the fire.

"As soon as the lights went off the right brake stuck on, so the car was hard to drive from word go — very snappy," Verstappen told Sky Sports.

"If the brake is stuck on, that doesn't help."

Catch up on the coverage of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix on the ABC Sport blog.

That is all for our live coverage

It has been a wonderful day for Formula 1.

A day of high drama from the very start — and a very deserved winner.

Carlos Sainz has produced a drive I think will be talked about in years to come — the man who came from surgery to win.

Carlos Sainz standing on the podium, being sprayed with wine, celebrating his victory.
(Formula 1 via Getty Images: Clive Mason)

Verstappen driving with a 'handbrake'

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has commented on Max Versatppen's retirement.

"It looks like the brake has bound on, pretty much from the start of the race," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said,

"As Max described, it was like having a handbrake, which caused him to have a couple of moments.

"Then the heat is building, and building, and building, and then the resultant fire."

It is Red Bull's first retirement from a mechanical failure since the 2022 Australian Grand Prix.

Stewards are looking into George Russell's crash

So this is an interesting one.

The stewards are investigating George Russell's crash.

He was chasing Fernando Alonso and then went off track.

However, there is a suggestion that Alonso may have braked abnormally early into the corner, which led to Russell going off track.

Leclerc up to second in the world championship

Great day for Ferrari and McLaren.

A day to forget for Red Bull.

A list of the top six drivers in the F1 championship. Verstappen is leading on 51 points, Leclerc second on 47

A wonderful day for Ferrari fans

Forza Ferrari! At last a 1-2. Molti complimenti a tutti.

- David Grinston

The Spanish and Italian anthems are playing loud and proud

The top three are on the podium.

It is kind of nice to hear something different.

We are so used to the Dutch and Austrian anthems, which are great by the way.

And the Ferrari teams are belting out the Italian anthem — as they should. This is a famous win.

Here is the finishing order for the Australian Grand Prix

Leclerc is full of praise for his teammate

"It feels good mostly for the team of course, first and second didn't happen since Bahrain 2022," Leclerc said post-race.

"Carlos has had an incredible weekend to come back from his surgery, he's done an amazing race."

Sainz is speaking with Gunther Steiner

"It was a really good race, physically it wasn't the easiest but I was mostly on my own so I could manage the pace, manage the tyres," Sainz said.

"Life is crazy, what happened at the beginning of the year, the podium in Bahrain, the appendix in Saudi and the win here.

"I will recommend all the drivers to take [their appendix] out next winter."

Daniel Ricciardo finishes 12th

A good race from Daniel.

12th is a fair result for good effort.

His RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda gets eighth, four points for the team.

Sainz is a happy man

"This is amazing. Thank-you guys," he says over the team radio.

Just a reminder that Sainz does not have a drive for next season — yet.

CARLOS SAINZ WINS THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

Sainz crosses the line with teammate Charles Leclerc next to him in second.

It is a McLaren third and fourth, with Lando Norris crossing the line ahead of Oscar Piastri.

VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR: GEORGE RUSSELL CRASHES

Oh massive crash.

Huge crash.

George Russell, who was battling Alonso has had a massive shunt.

Russell has reported that he is OK.

We are going to finish behind under safety car conditions. Carlos Sainz will win.

Lap 56: Russell and Alonso providing one last great fight

It is Aston Martin vs Mercedes.

Alonso is using all of his experience to defend sixth position.

George Russell is all over his tail, but the Spaniard remains ahead.

5 laps to go: Sainz on the verge of a brilliant victory

This man had surgery 16 days ago.

He missed the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.

His appendix needed to be removed.

This will be a special win.

Lap 51: Russell hunting Alonso for sixth

The lone Mercedes left in the race is catching Fernando Alonso.

Alonso benefitted from the virtual safety car earlier in the race, but Russell has never given up catching the Spaniard.

This could get spicy.

10 laps to go

Sainz is doing nicely.

He comfortably leads Leclerc.

Norris is chasing Leclerc for second and his catch, while his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri is fourth.

Lap 45: Norris trying to hunt Leclerc for second

About 13 laps to go.

Norris is in third and is four seconds behind second placed Leclerc.

This could be the most interesting fight at the back-end of this wonderful grand prix.

Lap 41: Sainz is in the pits

And it's a good pit stop.

Sainz comes out in the lead.

He has a clear run to the end of the race (he hopes).

Piastri has a moment at the penultimate corner

Piastri's hopes of a podium may be gone.

He locks up into the second-last corner, and goes onto the grass.

He loses about 4 seconds to his teammate.

Piastri pits the next lap, and it was not an overly fast stop.

Fourth may be the best result for Oscar today.

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