Autosport Podcast: F1 Australian GP review
Carlos Sainz's spectacular winning return from an appendectomy gave Formula 1's Australian Grand Prix a feelgood factor that went some way to making up for an uninspiring race.
The Ferrari driver was forced to sit out the Saudi Arabian GP, where Oliver Bearman made a superb debut in his place, but Sainz was back at his best in Melbourne and won convincingly after poleman Max Verstappen retired with brake problems.
Sainz did his job prospects for 2025, when he will be replaced at Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton, no harm at all by leading home team-mate Charles Leclerc in a 1-2 for the Scuderia as McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both headed the sole remaining Red Bull of Sergio Perez.
PLUS: Why Sainz could have won F1's Australian GP even in a Verstappen head-to-head
A race that featured only 19 starters, with Logan Sargeant benched by Williams, was missing both Mercedes at the finish as Hamilton was dramatically joined in retirement late on by George Russell. A penalty handed down to Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso for driving erratically in the lead-up to Russell's crash has bred plenty of debate.
All this and more is discussed in the latest edition of the Autosport Podcast, in which Bryn Lucas is joined by Alex Kalinauckas, Filip Cleeren and Matt Kew.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Top Comments
Frustrated Hamilton had to "yank" steering wheel in Azerbaijan GP
Power explains "strange" seat belt problem that thwarted IndyCar title hopes
Piastri's brilliance is both saving and causing problems for McLaren
Van Gisbergen "pretty angry at myself" over last-lap Watkins Glen error
Piastri's brilliance is both saving and causing problems for McLaren
Azerbaijan Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2024
The radio message Piastri “ignored” to win Baku’s three-way fight thriller
How Alonso played designer in Aston’s new limited edition special
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
