Carlos Sainz led Charles Leclerc to a Ferrari one-two in the Australian Grand Prix as Max Verstappen’s domination of Formula 1 stalled.
Sainz swept by the world champion’s Red Bull into the lead on the second lap before the Dutchman retired with a brake failure after just four laps.
The Spaniard then controlled the race as Leclerc passed McLaren’s Lando Norris in the first pit-stop period. The race ended under a virtual safety car after a crash for George Russell.
Chasing Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin for sixth place, the Mercedes driver lost control at Turn Six on the final lap and suffered a crash, the car coming to rest on its side, held up in the air by landing on its left-front wheel. Russell was unhurt.
Russell’s crash meant Mercedes leave Australia pointless and promoted Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll to seventh, ahead of RB’s Yuki Tsunoda and the Haas drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.
After the race Alonso was penalised 20 seconds for “potentially dangerous driving” at the Australian Grand Prix. The penalty dropped him from sixth place to eighth in the results. He was also given three penalty points on his licence.
Alex Albon, given team-mate Logan Sargent’s Williams for the weekend after a heavy crash on Friday, was 11th.
