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: Lewis Hamilton pits (Lap 8/58)
An early pit stop for Hamilton, from the softs to the hards, and is out in 14th.
Alex Albon has also gone in, and is out in 16th.
So the top-10 then... without Max Verstappen: Sainz, Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Russell, Perez, Stroll, Tsunoda, Alonso, Bottas
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen is out!
“I have smoke, my brake!” said Verstappen.
Max Verstappen is slowing down and is OUT of the race!
WOW!
It looks like his brakes as opposed to an engine issue!
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz overtakes Max Verstappen! (Lap 2/58)
What a move from the Ferrari - Carlos Sainz leads!
The Spaniard goes around the outside into turn nine and makes the move stick, using DRS after lap one!
“I lost the car, really weird! F***, the car is loose!” said Verstappen.
And his car is smoking!
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Lights out!
We’re underway with the Australian Grand Prix and everyone is through cleanly, excellent start from Max Verstappen!
George Russell takes Sergio Perez for sixth, while Lewis Hamilton is up a place for P10!
F1 Australian Grand Prix: Formation lap!
Max Verstappen leads the pack around then for the formation lap!
And an early surprise in terms of tyres, with Lewis Hamilton in P11 on the soft tyre. And Hamilton on the radio is not sure about that decision!
Most of the other cars on medium tyres...
Here we go then!
What is the starting grid for Sunday’s race?
1. Max Verstappen
2. Carlos Sainz
3. Lando Norris
4. Charles Leclerc
5. Oscar Piastri
6. Sergio Perez*
7. George Russell
8. Yuki Tsunoda
9. Lance Stroll
10. Fernando Alonso
11. Lewis Hamilton
12. Alex Albon
13. Valtteri Bottas
14. Kevin Magnussen
15. Esteban Ocon
16. Nico Hulkenberg
17. Pierre Gasly
18. Daniel Ricciardo
Pit lane - Zhou Guanyu
*Sergio Perez was given a three-place grid penalty for impeding Nico Hulkenberg in qualifying
F1 Australian Grand Prix!
Rise and shine! Have you even been asleep?!
Welcome to live coverage of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne for the third race of the 2024 F1 season. Max Verstappen starts on pole at Albert Park, with Carlos Sainz in second and Lando Norris in third.
Can anyone stop the Dutchman winning a 10th race in a row?
Carlos Sainz ahead of the Australian Grand Prix:
“24 hours I feel better, let’s go. I’ve been feeling good with the car this weekend, let’s see if I can push for 58 laps.”
What is the race schedule?
(All times GMT)
Sunday 24 March
- Race: 4am
How can I watch it online and on TV?
The Australian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom - and ESPN in the United States. Sky’s coverage of the race starts at 3am.
Highlights of the race in the UK will be aired on free-to-air Channel 4 at 12:30pm (GMT) on Sunday.
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