The 2024 Australian Grand Prix once again delivered an exciting race, albeit slightly less chaotic than recent events, with George Russell's dramatic crash on the penultimate lap being a notable exception.

The race at Albert Park started as a typical Sunday for many fans but quickly became exhilarating when Carlos Sainz overtook Max Verstappen on just the second lap.

Verstappen's race took a turn for the worse shortly after, as he was forced to retire due to a rear-right brake issue, mere seconds after complaining about his car's 'loose' handling.

Fomula 1, Max Verstappen, F1, Red Bull, Australian Grand Prix, Crash, Albert Park — Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen retired from the race during the F1 Grand Prix of Australia. Image: Clive Mason.
Source: Getty Images

Following Verstappen's retirement, Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton, also retired, just 13 laps later, due to an engine failure.

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These unexpected events played into the hands of Ferrari and McLaren, as they only had to contend with Sergio Perez's Red Bull. However, Perez struggled to maintain his usual pace, largely due to tyre degradation issues that have plagued the Austrian team all season.

Nonetheless, in the spirit of the ‘Tifosi’ and the whole of Maranello celebrating their first victory since the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, Sports Brief highlights key takeaways from the 2024 Australian Grand Prix.

Key points from the Australian Grand Prix

Red Bull Racing can make mistakes too

The Australian Grand Prix served as a stark reminder to the grid that the Milton Keynes team are not immune to errors, as seen previously at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.

A brake issue resulted in the Austrian constructor's first mechanical Did Not Finish (DNF) since the 2022 Australian Grand Prix. Verstappen's teammate, Perez, also faced technical mishaps, experiencing an unexpected level of tyre degradation and sustaining floor damage to his car, as confirmed by Team Principal, Christian Horner.

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Despite these setbacks, Red Bull Racing are eager to return to their promising form as they prepare for the next race at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.

Carlos Sainz deserves a seat for 2025

The 29-year-old has experienced a remarkably eventful first quarter in the 2024 Formula 1 season. Beginning the year with high hopes and anticipation, the Spaniard faced a setback when Ferrari announced the signing of Hamilton.

Now racing to secure a driver's seat for 2025, the former McLaren driver was further challenged by appendicitis issues, eventually requiring surgery that forced him to miss the race in Jeddah. However, Sainz made an incredible comeback, clinching victory ahead of his teammate, Charles Leclerc, at Albert Park. This remarkable turn of events undeniably strengthens the argument that Sainz deserves a spot on the grid for the 2025 season.

Danial Ricciardo needs a response

Daniel Ricciardo's return to Formula 1 may be coming to a close as abruptly as it began. The 34-year-old, entering his home Grand Prix, had much to demonstrate, particularly in response to the statement by 1980 F1 champion Alan Jones, as reported by Planet F1, suggesting that the Australian's career was over.

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Unfortunately, Ricciardo did little to disprove the 77-year-old's assertion throughout the race weekend. He failed to advance beyond Q1 in qualifying and endured a forgettable race on Sunday, finishing 12th and trailing behind his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who secured valuable points for the team.

The head-to-head record between Ricciardo and Tsunoda currently stands at two-one in favour of the Japanese.