In Australia, Scuderia Ferrari orchestrated a flawless weekend with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Acquiring the total 44 points, courtesy of the Monegasque driver securing the race’s swiftest lap signifies the team’s 59th consecutive season with at least one victory. Furthermore, it positions them just four points behind the championship leader, while Charles is similarly close to Max Verstappen. Carlos trails by 11 points due to his absence from a single race.
A masterpiece unfolded. Sainz undoubtedly cherishes his third Formula 1 triumph, all attained with Scuderia Ferrari, placing him on par with four esteemed world champions – Juan Manuel Fangio, Mike Hawthorn, Phil Hill, and Jody Scheckter – on Scuderia illustrious list of victors. Remarkably, the Spaniard showed composure, seizing an opportunity to overtake Verstappen. Maintaining an astonishingly consistent pace throughout, he showcased exemplary tire management prowess across three stints, commencing with the Medium compound before switching to the Hards on laps 16 and 41. Astutely timing his pit stops, Carlos navigated the field skillfully. To cap it off, Carlos earned the “Driver of the Day” accolade by topping the fan vote.
A stalwart performance ensued. Charles also delivered a commendable drive, securing a well-deserved second place of significant importance in the championship standings. Starting from fourth on the grid, he executed a flawless undercut maneuver on lap 9, vaulting ahead of Lando Norris. Asserting his dominance in the final stint, he repelled Norris’s advances, despite the latter’s fresher tires, and clinched the additional point for the race’s fastest lap.
Next stop: Japan. Following the arduous journey of the season, the World Championship sets its sights on Asia and the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix at the iconic Suzuka circuit.
Carlos Sainz #55
An exhilarating journey! I am overjoyed! From the start, I bonded with Scuderia Ferrari, pushing to overtake Max Verstappen. I am also relieved to learn of George’s well-being following the harrowing crash. This one-two finish is a testament to the team’s collective efforts from the outset of FP1 to the final lap. We flawlessly executed our strategy, witnessing impeccable performances from our mechanics in swift pit stops. Congratulations to all! Let us maintain this momentum as we head to Japan! Vamos!
Charles Leclerc #16
It was a highly gratifying weekend for the team. We maximized our points haul, leaving no stone unturned to secure a one-two finish and the fastest lap. Carlos displayed remarkable prowess today. On my end, a solid first stint enabled us to leapfrog Lando (Norris) during the pit stop. Despite grappling with tire degradation on my initial set of Hards, I showcased an improved pace in the final stint on the second set of Hards, effectively managing the gap to Lando. Commencing the season with three consecutive weekends of maximizing our potential instills a sense of satisfaction, underscoring our team’s relentless dedication over the preceding months.
Fred Vasseur – Team Principal
Today, I congratulate the team for their outstanding efforts, both on and off the track. Special commendation is given to Carlos, who underwent surgery a fortnight ago. Yet, today, he exhibited unwavering focus to culminate in a sensational weekend. Charles, too, delivered a commendable performance, rebounding admirably from a suboptimal qualifying session to assert his dominance throughout the race, particularly in managing tire degradation. Our consistent speed throughout the weekend, evident from the outset of free practice, reflects the significant strides we have taken compared to last year when our Melbourne outing yielded no points. While we celebrate this achievement, our focus remains unwavering as we approach subsequent races, adhering to the same meticulous approach that has propelled us to this point.
