F1 Australian Grand Prix LIVE: Fernando Alonso hit with penalty after George Russell collision
Follow live updates from the Australian Grand Prix as Verstappen and Hamilton retire in Melbourne
Max Verstappen’s bid to win a record-equalling 10 consecutive races went up in smoke as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz returned from surgery just 16 days ago to win in Australia.
Verstappen suffered a brake failure after just four laps of Sunday’s 58-lap race at Melbourne’s sun-cooked Albert Park to end his winning streak which stretched back to September’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Sainz took advantage of Verstappen’s first retirement in 43 races to claim just the third win of his career a fortnight after he was ruled out of the previous round in Saudi Arabia with appendicitis.
Charles Leclerc finished second to complete a Ferrari one-two with Lando Norris next up as the British driver landed his first podium of the year. Lewis Hamilton’s miserable start to his final season with Mercedes continued after he retired on lap 17 with an engine failure.
Follow live updates from the Australian GP with The Independent
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz leads by four seconds (Lap 27/58)
What a dream afternoon this could be for the returning Carlos Sainz!
The Spaniard has now opened up a four-second lead to his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc, with Oscar Piastri 2.2 seconds further down the road.
Sergio Perez has also dispatched of Fernando Alonso, and is 11 seconds behind Lando Norris in fourth now.
4-10: Norris, Perez, Alonso, Russell, Stroll, Tsunoda, Albon
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Sergio Perez overtakes George Russell (Lap 22/58)
The Mexican in the other Red Bull is the wild card here!
Perez takes Russell for sixth place - with Fernando Alonso next down the road.
“That car is like a rocketship,” said Russell.
Out in front, Ferrari have ordered Sainz and Leclerc to hold position right now. Sainz has a lead of 1.8 seconds.
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Top-10 after 20 laps! (20/58)
So, where are we at after the drama in the opening 20 laps!
TOP-10:
1. Carlos Sainz
2. Charles Leclerc (+1.109)
3. Oscar Piastri (+3.5)
4. Lando Norris (+6.2)
5. Fernando Alonso (+12.8)
6. George Russell (+17.5)
7. Sergio Pperez (+18.5)
8. Lance Stroll (+21.4)
9. Yuki Tsunoda (+23.2)
10. Alex Albon (+27.2)
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Green flag conditions!
A rapid VSC period - but one where Fernando Alonso made his cheap pit stop!
He drops down to P6...
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton is OUT!
Another mechanical failure!
Lewis Hamilton has an engine failure - he’s out of the Australian Grand Prix.
Virtual safety car... his car is being wheeled into a service road.
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz pits (Lap 17/58)
The Ferrari comes into the pits then... and is back out behind Fernando Alonso, who is yet to pit.
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Lando Norris drops to P5
Surely Norris has lost out here?!
Norris comes into the pits, quick stop, but is back out behind his team-mate Oscar Piastri!
Sergio Perez also pits and is back out in 10th.
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz leads by eight seconds! (Lap 14/58)
Cruise time for Carlos Sainz.
He’s eight seconds ahead... and it looks like Lando Norris might come in here!
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Sergio Perez on team radio! (Lap 13/58)
“I think we over did it on this tyre, the grip is quite low on the rear,” says Perez.
Have Red Bull made a mistake with their cars here?!
What a start this has been!
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri pit! (Lap 10/58)
This is in response to George Russell’s pit stop a lap earlier!
They both come out ahead of the Mercedes, two smooth stops for Leclerc and Piastri!
Leclerc now in fifth, Piastri in sixth.
When will Norris, Sainz and the front of the pack pit?
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