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Victor Petkov
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Verstappen DNF hands Sainz Melbourne win, 1-2 for Ferrari
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The World champion had to retire in Australia for the first time in two years

Carlos Sainz orchestrated a Ferrari one-two finish in the Australian Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc, halting Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 dominance as the Dutch driver encountered setbacks.

Sainz surged past Verstappen’s Red Bull to seize the lead on the second lap, only for Verstappen to retire due to a brake failure after a mere four laps.

From then on, Sainz expertly managed the race while Leclerc overtook Lando Norris of McLaren during the initial pit-stop phase.

The race concluded under a virtual safety car following a crash involving George Russell. In a bid for sixth place, Russell’s Mercedes lost control at Turn Six on the final lap, resulting in a crash that left the car resting on its side, supported by the left-front wheel. Fortunately, Russell emerged unscathed.

For Mercedes, the day ended on a challenging note, affirming their status as contenders rather than front-runners, with Lewis Hamilton retiring after 16 laps due to an engine failure.

Norris led Oscar Piastri to secure a McLaren three-four finish, ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who struggled to make an impact in the absence of Verstappen’s presence on the track.