Sainz signs epic victory in Verstappen drama in Melbourne

Fernando Alonso loses two positions due to a penalty and finishes eighth

The Spanish driver Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) has won this Sunday the victory in the Australian Grand Prix race, the third round of the Formula 1 World Championship, in a day marked by the abandonment in the first laps of the championship leader, the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), and in which Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) finished sixth but was relegated to eighth position after a penalty for a maneuver against the British George Russell (Mercedes).

Sainz, with the scar from his appendicitis operation two weeks ago still fresh, dominated overwhelmingly at Melbourne's Albert Park Circuit and took advantage of the Dutchman's retirement, affected by a brake failure.

Thus, Spanish flag in hand, he commanded Ferrari's double, which put its other driver, the Monegasque Charles Leclerc, in second and with the prize for the fastest lap. The British Lando Norris (McLaren), a great friend of the Madrid native, completed the podium in third position.

Everything blew up on lap 3, when a trickle of smoke began to come out of the Red Bull of 'Mad Max', who had already warned that something was wrong with his car. Before, Sainz had shaken him off in the second turn on the oceanic track, beginning his crushing dominance.

The 'Scuderia' was left with the road clear, only concerned with managing the 'graining' of its tires, and Sainz began to pull, while behind the cars began to pass through garages and McLaren made calculations to get on the podium.

Meanwhile, Alonso rode in the footsteps of the only Red Bull driver on the track, the Mexican Sergio 'Checo' Pérez, and the British Lando Norris and held his tires waiting for any surprise, which occurred on lap 15 with the abandonment of the British Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) due to engine failure.

The start of the 'virtual safety car' benefited the Spaniard, who gained five positions at once. Pérez regained his place midway through the race, and the Asturian remained a favorable victim for Russell in the final laps; He tried to defend himself at all costs, and in one of these actions the British ended up hitting the wall.

Alonso crossed the finish line in sixth position, after the three on the podium, the Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and Pérez, but the stewards summoned him after the test and penalized him with 20 seconds for his maneuver on the 'silver arrows' driver. interpreting that he had braked too much.

With this, he fell to eighth place, allowing his teammate, the Canadian Lance Stroll, and the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda (RB) to climb positions. The 'Top 10' in Melbourne was completed by Alonso, the German Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) and the Danish Kevin Magnussen (Haas).

Despite his retirement, Verstappen continues to lead the overall standings of the Drivers' World Championship with 51 points, four more than Leclerc and five more than his teammate 'Checo' Pérez. Sainz, who did not race in Saudi Arabia, is fourth with 40 units.