Carlos Sainz of Spain has broken Red Bull's early dominance of the Formula 1 season by winning the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday.

The Ferrari driver made a big statement by winning the third race of the season, as it is he who must give up his seat at the Italian manufacturer year to make way for the seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton.

Sainz, who missed the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix two weeks ago after undergoing an emergency procedure to remove his appendix, had some good fortune go his way as the pole-sitter and reigning three-time world champion, Max Verstappen, was forced to retire on the fourth lap due to brake issues. It was the Dutch drivers’ first retirement in a race in more than two-years.

In addition, both Mercedes-Benz drivers, Hamilton, and George Russell, didn’t complete the race at Albert Park. Hamilton retired after 15 laps with an engine problem, while Russell crashed on the 57th lap.

Sainz took the checkered flag by winning the race in 1:20:26.843. His Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, finished in second in 2.366 seconds off the pace, while Lando Norris of McLaren, took third.

The Australian driver and teammate of Norris, Oscar Piastri, was fourth overall, while Sergio Perez of Red Bull earned his team 10 points by finishing in fifth.

Sainz said it was a good race for himself and his team and conceded that it wasn’t the easiest of races due the surgery he underwent just over a fortnight ago.

“It was a really good race - I felt really good out there,” said Sainz.

“Of course, I’m a bit stiff, especially physically, it wasn’t the easiest, but I was lucky that I was more or less on my own and I could manage my pace, manage the tyres, manage everything. It wasn’t the toughest race of all, but yeah, very happy, very proud of the team.

“I’m happy to be in a one-two with Charles here. It shows that hard work pays off. Life sometimes is crazy, what happened at the beginning of the year, then the podium in Bahrain, then the appendix, the comeback, the win... it’s a rollercoaster but I loved it and I’m extremely happy.”

The next race will be at the Suzuka circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix from 5 to 7 April.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport