Now it is obviously too early to determine if Ferrari can produce more performances like this in Melbourne last weekend, but we have the privilege to dream, right?
It was an exciting Formula 1 weekend in Australia overall, even the practice sessions were somewhat eventful, with drivers going off track trying to master the Albert Park Circuit. While it was more thrilling to witness Max Verstappen competing against Sainz during the race, the fact that we had a different winner after two races dominated by Red Bull was simply thrilling.
Sainz’s comeback, Verstappen’s brake failure, Mercedes’ struggles, Fernando Alonso’s antics, Williams’ humiliation, and various other topics provided enough on-track attractions that overshadowed Christian Horner’s endless saga, as well as Susie and Toto Wolff’s dispute with the FIA and its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, considering the latter’s investigation issues as well.
But for now, let’s set aside the politics and focus on some important lessons from the 2024 Australian Grand Prix.
Since being informed that his time at Ferrari would come to an end at the end of the 2024 season, Sainz was determined to show his worth to other teams while proving to his current team that they made a mistake letting him go.
Throughout his time in Maranello, Sainz has consistently shown to be more reliable and less error-prone than his exceptionally fast teammate, Charles Leclerc.
This trend continued in 2024, with Sainz securing a podium in the season opener in Bahrain. Although Saudi Arabia was a failure due to his appendicitis surgery, his impressive comeback in Australia should not be overlooked.
Simply returning to the cockpit of an F1 car without being fully recovered was an achievement in itself, but surpassing Leclerc in qualifying – despite the latter having balance issues in the car in Q3 – and then winning the race was an extraordinary achievement by Sainz.
Yes, Verstappen’s retirement helped in his victory, but all indications pointed to the SF-24 being incredibly fast at Albert Park, making the Spanish driver a true contender for the win.
Editor-in-Chief Paul Velasco wrote an article questioning whether Ferrari made the wrong decision by letting the wrong driver go. The race in Melbourne made it clear that this was indeed the case, and if Sainz maintains this level of performance throughout 2024, John Elkann and Frederic Vasseur risk appearing inexperienced.
Verstappen’s retirement in Melbourne last Sunday marked the end of an impressive reliability streak for the Dutch driver since he retired from the Australian Grand Prix in 2022. It also highlighted the shift in dominance.
Red Bull did not perform well in Melbourne, and the RB20 did not seem to be the superior machine that we witnessed in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in the first two races of the season. Nevertheless, Verstappen managed to secure pole position, surpassing Leclerc, who was expected to take the top spot based on practice.
Red Bull faced difficulties in Singapore in 2023, which was the only race where they showed any vulnerability. However, they have shown signs of vulnerability at the start of the 2024 season. Will this become a recurring theme as the season progresses?
Has Ferrari solved its tire degradation issues during races? It seems so, as Haas, which uses Ferrari’s suspension, also showed improved performance during races. Both Haas cars scored points in Melbourne.
While Red Bull’s dominance in the Australian Grand Prix was well deserved, we sincerely hope that Ferrari’s performance was genuine and that they consistently challenge the F1 champions throughout the 2024 season.
Mercedes finds itself in a rather unfortunate situation. Their 2024 car, the W15, which was designed with a new philosophy, turned out to be a disappointment in silver and black.
Despite the positive signs they showed during pre-season testing, their new car seems to be, at best, mediocre. In Melbourne, the car was so unstable that Lewis Hamilton had trouble navigating Turn 1. Fortunately for him, his power unit failed early on, sparing him from enduring the full 58 laps of the Australian Grand Prix. The irony is evident.
Although George Russell had a slightly better performance in the other W15, his crash at the end of the race resulted in Mercedes leaving Australia without scoring points. This is an unacceptable result for a team of their caliber.
While Russell admitted some responsibility for the accident involving Alonso, the latter’s behavior was questionable at best. However, this incident also raised another concern for Mercedes.
Russell, who has been considered a potential team leader after Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari in 2025, does not seem suitable for that role due to his tendency to get involved in accidents in tight race situations. The most recent example being Singapore 2023, and let’s not forget the major accident he caused at Silverstone in 2022, flipping Zhou Guanyu’s Sauber upside down into the stands.
Toto Wolff should carefully consider his decision when choosing Hamilton’s replacement.
One of the topics of discussion at the Australian Grand Prix was the incident on the last lap involving Alonso and Russell. Despite Alonso’s attempts to justify his actions, it was clear that he employed strategic racing tactics he has become known for, a move that may have gone unpunished in the past.
The decision by the stewards to penalize Alonso after the race was bound to cause controversy. However, if we strictly adhere to the wording of the rules, a penalty was inevitable.
While there may be differing opinions on Alonso’s penalty, it is worth noting that I have come across respected experts, such as Sean Stevens from GrandPrix247, who is an experienced race official, and they believe Alonso deserved the penalty.
In conclusion, it is evident that Alonso was not innocent in this situation. However, this does not absolve Russell from addressing his shortcomings when it comes to tight race situations.
© 2024
The football star Cristiano Ronaldo was caught on a romantic date with the Brazilian supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio. The exclusive photos show the couple enjoying an intimate dinner at a fancy restaurant in Paris. It seems like Ronaldo is moving on after his breakup with the Spanish model Georgina Rodríguez. Fans are excited about this new potential love interest of the player.
Ronaldo and Ambrosio were seen leaving the restaurant together, looking very happy and relaxed. They were smiling and exchanging loving glances throughout the night. It appears they have a special connection and are enjoying special moments together. Could this be the beginning of a new romance?
Ronaldo’s fans are eager to know more about this date. Ambrosio is one of the most famous models in the world and is known for her stunning beauty. She has walked the runway for several renowned fashion brands and is considered one of the most beautiful women on the planet. Ronaldo, on the other hand, is one of the most talented and successful football players in history. Together, they make a powerful and glamorous couple.
This news will certainly shake the world of celebrities and football fans. Everyone is curious to find out if Ronaldo and Ambrosio are really dating or if it’s just a casual encounter. While we wait for more information, we can enjoy these exclusive photos of this romantic date and hope that this potential romance works out. Stay tuned for more updates on the subject!
