F1 update – Australian GP

Round 3 of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship took place at Albert Park, Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix.

After missing the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2 weeks ago, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz became the first driver since Gerhard Berger in Germany 1997 to win a Grand Prix after missing at least 1 race, the Spaniard headed home Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc with McLaren’s Lando Norris finishing third.

Australian GP – top 5:

• 1st: Carlos Sainz – Ferrari
• 2nd: Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
• 3rd: Lando Norris – McLaren
• 4th: Oscar Piastri – McLaren
• 5th: Sergio Perez – Red Bull

Race highlights:

• Red Bull’s Max Verstappen would retire from a race for the first time since Australia 2022 after retiring with brake failure on lap 4.
• Mercedes had both drivers not see the checkered flag as Lewis Hamilton retired on lap 16 with a power unit failure whilst his teammate George Russell would crash out on the final lap whilst battling the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso, Alonso would recieve a 20 second time penalty for his role in Russell’s accident.
• Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was given a 5 second time penalty for crossing the white line at the pit exit.

News:

• McLaren CEO Zak Brown signs an extended deal to remain the CEO of McLaren until 2030.
• The president of the FIA Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been cleared of investigations of interferring the results of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
• Williams would only have one car race as Alexander Albon crashed in FP1 and with the team having no spare car Logan Sargeant was forced to miss this Grand Prix.

The next round of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship will take place at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan for the Japanese Grand Prix on 5th to 7th April.

Aston and regular contributor Cameron Perkins with the latest from the world of Formula 1.