Teams’ reaction after the Ferrari-dominated Australian Grand Prix

The nail-biting Australian Grand Prix noticed Scuderia Ferrari snatch their 86th one-two end in Method One with Carlos Sainz rising on high, having delivered a sensational efficiency on his return after his current surgical procedure.

Ferrari might have hardly made a greater job than what they’ve performed on the Australian Grand Prix. Having simply returned from his surgical procedure, Carlos Sainz managed the race from the beginning, taking his third grand prix victory. Though it was a tricky race for the Spaniard phisically, it was his first dominant victory after the hard-fought wins that he secured in Silverstone (2022) and Singapore (2023).

On the different facet of the storage, Charles Leclerc delivered a faultess efficiency, though his race was compromised by his begin place that pressured him to pit early. This technique determination that was taken to be able to undercut Lando Norris meant that he was pressured to finish a really lengthy center stint. Consequently, the Monegasque was unable to problem his team-mate, however he confirmed his tempo by setting the quickest race lap in Melbourne regardless of being on barely older tyres than his direct rivals.

Carlos Sainz, 1st
“What a rollercoaster! I’m extraordinarily comfortable! I felt good within the automotive proper from lap 1 and after overtaking Max (Verstappen), after I was in free air, I began setting a robust tempo that took me all the best way to the end line, bringing dwelling the primary win of the season. I’m additionally comfortable that George is OK after the heavy crash.

“The crew deserves this one-two, we did a incredible job all weekend, from FP1 to the final lap. We executed an ideal race, nailed the technique and the mechanics had been unbelievable delivering exact and fast pit stops each single time. Congratulations to everybody! Let’s carry this momentum to Japan! Vamos!”

Charles Leclerc, 2nd

“It was a very good weekend for the crew. We maximised our factors and left nothing on the desk, bringing dwelling a 1-2 end and the quickest lap. Carlos did a stable job at the moment. On my facet, I had an excellent first stint and we managed to get forward of Lando (Norris) in the course of the pit cease. I struggled a bit with graining on my first set of hards and had a stronger tempo on the final stint on the second set of hards, managing the hole to Lando.

“We’ve began out the season with three weekends by which now we have made probably the most of our potential, which feels actually good and is an affidavit to all of the arduous work that our crew has put in over the previous months.”

McLaren have scored their first podium of the season with Lando Norris ending third behind the 2 Ferraris. Their MCL38 has been very constant and fast all by means of the weekend with the Albert Park circuit’s medium- and high-speed corners having favoured the automotive’s strengths.

After Oscar Piastri elected to pit early for contemporary hards, he was on the again foot in comparison with his team-mate. It was subsequently no shock that the crew requested the Australian to swap place with Norris to be able to let the Briton chase Charles Leclerc.

Lando Norris, third
“Our first podium of the season! It was an excellent day for us. P3, P4 and many factors within the championship. I believe our tempo was sturdy at the moment, however Ferrari and Carlos did an excellent job, so hats off to them. They’ve been quick all weekend. The automotive felt good, and I might handle the tyres very effectively at the moment, and that was an excellent step.

“It’s clear that this circuit fits us a bit of bit extra, so we’ve been in a position to push and unlock a bit of little bit of pace. However Ferrari and Pink Bull are nonetheless one or two steps forward of us, so we have to catch up. A giant because of everybody in McLaren, they’ve been working extremely arduous. We’re getting nearer to our goal. I wasn’t anticipating to be on the rostrum but it surely’s good to be again, I’m very comfortable and pleased with our crew. Hopefully, we are able to have many extra.”

Oscar Piastri, 4th
“P4. A great consequence for us. I believe the tempo was good the entire manner by means of. I struggled a bit of bit on the primary set of Hards, I simply grained them a bit of bit after which had a bit of little bit of a second. I believe it was an excellent day by way of factors for the crew. I do not suppose there was an excessive amount of we might have performed on my facet, so yeah, I’m fairly comfortable. So near a podium however it can come. Lando did an excellent job at the moment getting the P3. All in all, a profitable week at dwelling.”

Pink Bull have had a bizarre weekend. They seemed to be sturdy from the primary laps onwards on Friday, however Ferrari regarded nearer to them than within the opening two rounds of the season. The Scuderia topped the second and third follow in addition to the opening and the center section of qualifying earlier than Verstappen secured pole place from Carlos Sainz.

Within the race, the Dutchman led the best way after the beginning, however Sainz overtook him on Lap 2 earlier than he was pressured to retire with a mechanical subject. It emerged that his brake had been caught on because the lights went out, which led to a hearth on the appropriate rear nook of the RB20. Verstappen was pressured to limp again to the pits together with his automotive on hearth for his first retirement in two years.

On the different facet of the storage, Sergio Perez had a quiet race. The Mexican began solely from P6 after receiving a three-place grid drop penalty for holding up Nico Hulkenberg within the opening qualifying session. Alongside a minor flooring injury, the five-time race winner appeared to lack race pace and undergo from graining on his entrance tyres simply as he did on Friday.

Max Verstappen, DNF

“It’s unlucky about what occurred at the moment, however we are able to see to this point within the knowledge that as quickly because the lights went off the appropriate rear brake simply caught on and locked. It was principally like driving with the hand brake on so, in fact, the temperature simply stored on rising after which I might see smoke seem because it had caught hearth.

“This on the time was very complicated because the automotive was actually bizarre to drive in some corners. At flip three, I braked and misplaced the rear finish of the automotive; it felt bizarre on the rear axel, then on flip six and 7 it snapped on me. The Workforce will examine and we are going to see if there are any solutions however there are some issues you possibly can’t management. It’s a disgrace because the automotive felt actually good within the laps to the grid, however you can’t management these points and these items occur.

“In fact, I’m disenchanted we didn’t end the race as we had an excellent shot at profitable and the automotive has been bettering all through the weekend. We knew a day like might come in some unspecified time in the future so we have to be proud that now we have had an excellent run with 9 races in a row and we are able to come again stronger for Suzuka.”

Sergio Perez, fifth
“I don’t suppose it was a perfect weekend for us, since Friday we had struggled fairly a bit with the long term and we tried totally different options and compromises for Saturday however we couldn’t get a complete deal with on it. Within the first stint the steadiness was tremendous impartial, I didn’t have any rear grip and we utterly destroyed the rear tyres after which the second stint I utterly destroyed the entrance tyres.

“It wasn’t a pleasant steadiness on the market, it was a little bit of surviving mode with the degradation we had, and we didn’t match as much as Ferrari or McLaren. The grid penalty additionally harmed us as a result of with out that we might have ended up so much additional up. I believe at the moment was monitor dependent, so hopefully after we go to Japan we’re again on high.”

Mercedes continued their bizarre begin to the season. The Brackley-based outfit confirmed flashes of nice pace at varied factors of the weekend, however they had been unable to ship when it actually mattered. They lacked one-lap pace in qualifying which meant that Hamilton and Russell certified solely eleventh and seventh respectively.

Throughout the 58-lap race, the seven-time world champion was pressured to retire with an influence unit subject on Lap 17 whereas Russell lacked race tempo earlier than enduring an enormous crash within the closing levels of the race.

Lewis Hamilton, DNF
“My race was going OK up till the purpose we suffered the Energy Unit failure. It’s fairly powerful to overhaul right here however we had gained some positions early on with the Smooth tyre. It was unlucky that we needed to retire as there was nonetheless an extended approach to go. I used to be starting to press on, however the Energy Unit simply stopped. These items occur and I do know we are going to bounce again.

“We may also enhance the automotive because the season goes on. We’ve performed so in earlier years, and I’m assured we are going to achieve this once more. It’s powerful that we aren’t as aggressive as we want in the intervening time, however we are going to preserve working arduous. I’m targeted on doing that with the crew. Within the quick time period, I count on we are going to nonetheless discover it tough to problem additional up however we are going to see what we are able to do within the medium time period.”

George Russell, DNF
“I’m OK after the accident fortuitously. I don’t actually know easy methods to clarify what occurred. I used to be half-a-second behind Fernando (Alonso) 100 metres earlier than the nook after which immediately he got here again in the direction of me extraordinarily shortly. It was clear that he braked sooner than he had performed on earlier laps after which bought again on the throttle. I wasn’t anticipating that, and it caught me abruptly. I hit the wall and had a dramatic few seconds after that.

“It was a disappointing finish to a tough race. Our tempo wasn’t the place we wished it to be. We confirmed spells of excellent lap instances however in the end we’ve bought work to do to catch these forward. We can be targeted on how we are able to make enhancements forward of Japan in two weeks’ time.”

Aston Martin endured a tough qualifying, however they may capitalize on the misfortunes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to attain twelve factors in Australia. Nonetheless, it was a moderately tough experience for the Silverstone-based outfit down beneath in Melbourne. Whereas Lance Stroll sounded delighted after the race, Fernando Alonso had an eventful race.

The Spaniard was clearly the quicker Aston Martin driver within the race, however he was hit with a twenty-second penalty for altering his driving fashion in an “extraordinary” manner which led to George Russell’s big crash. Consequently, the two-time world champion dropped down the order to P8 behind his crew mate and RB racer Yuki Tsunoda.

Fernando Alonso, eighth
“We had been a bit of fortunate with the timing of the Digital Security Automobile when Lewis [Hamilton] retired. Then I used to be fairly comfortable sat behind Checo [Perez] as a result of I might use the DRS to drag a spot. I misplaced a number of time when Charles [Leclerc] got here out from the pits – however these seconds we gained proved to be gold mud on the finish.

“Within the closing laps, George caught me shortly. I knew that he was coming, then he was in DRS vary for 5 – 6 laps, so I used to be simply doing qualifying laps to remain forward. I wished to maximise my exit pace from Flip Six to defend towards him. That is what any racing driver would do, and I did not really feel it was harmful. It is disappointing to get a penalty from the stewards for what was arduous however truthful racing. Nonetheless, I am glad that George is okay. It was not good to see his automotive in the midst of the monitor.

“This wasn’t the perfect weekend for us by way of tempo, however our race was effectively executed: good technique, unbelievable pit-stops, nice reliability. I believe we most likely scored extra factors at the moment than our tempo merited – however we’ll take that.”

Lance Stroll, sixth
“It was a stable race at the moment and I am happy to select up just a few factors. I had a robust begin, gaining a few locations on the primary lap, after which settled into an excellent rhythm. As anticipated, managing the tyres was the most important problem because of the excessive degradation, however I sorted them effectively and the crew did an excellent job with the race technique. We nonetheless have some extra tempo to search out within the automotive, however I believe we depart Australia figuring out we made the a lot of the package deal now we have.”

The Visa Money App RB squad had a robust weekend in Australia. Yuki Tsunoda certified eighth, beating the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. Though he wanted some misfortunes for Hamilton, Alonso, Max Verstappen and George Russell, he was in a position to capitalize on these incidents and went on to attain a precious haul of factors for the Faenza-based outfit.

House favorite Daniel Ricciardo regarded sturdy in qualifying, however a monitor limits infringement meant that he was knocked out on the finish of the primary qualifying section. Though he confirmed flashes of encouraging tempo, particularly throughout his final stint, he ended the race down in P12, 5 locations behind his team-mate.

Daniel Ricciardo, twelfth

“After final night time, I let go of the frustration and put it apart coming into the race. I attempted to get probably the most out of at the moment and there have been some good stints in there. A number of drivers pitted early like me, however ranging from the again of the grid, we needed to attempt one thing. I believe within the first stint on the arduous compound I misplaced a bit of little bit of time because the graining got here up fairly quickly with the VSC, however the second was positively extra aggressive.

“I used to be in a position to drive on a low 1:21 as a lap time earlier than we bought some blue flags, so there have been actually some good and inspiring moments all through the race. Nonetheless, I believe we’re nonetheless lacking some issues as generally I really feel like and I’m not carrying sufficient pace in some corners. Throughout the race, I marked some factors which are good for gathering knowledge and can assist us proceed understanding our automotive. Clearly, I’d have liked to have a greater weekend and begin to the season, particularly after the preparation I had coming into it.

“Nonetheless, there’s no panic, we proceed maintaining our eyes on the prize and dealing collectively. I really feel just like the automotive itself has probably not modified from final yr, it’s an replace however the traits are very related. There’s some confidence in that and I don’t suppose now we have to vary the whole lot, so we’ll discover one thing in one of many subsequent weekends to proceed the constructive efficiency pattern.”

Yuki Tsunoda, seventh
“Lastly, a high 10 end, the crew positively deserves it, and I’m very comfortable! We had been very constant all through this weekend and the automotive felt good immediately, so we simply needed to put all of it collectively and have a clear race to attain factors on this tight midfield, and we had been in a position to obtain that at the moment. We didn’t make any errors and it’s essential for the crew and me to have that confidence going into the subsequent races. To have a clear race sounds straightforward, however the final two races have been irritating for us, so ending P8 at the moment, after a productive restructuring, was positively deserved.

“The crew did a incredible job, and I can see the crew is considerably bettering each race. The distinction within the automotive between the identical time in Melbourne final yr and this yr is spectacular. The quantity of labor we put into that automotive was large and the work positively paid off. To be trustworthy, the race wasn’t really easy as a result of different groups really picked up their tempo fairly a bit, however I’m very comfortable we had been in a position to maximise our efficiency and alternative, and glad to listen to that George is okay in the long run. The entire weekend is an effective way to enter Japan, particularly with this consequence beneath the belt, and at the least, I’m in a position to give some hope to the Japanese followers.

“I haven’t scored any F1 factors at my dwelling Grand Prix, however the automotive appears good, so let’s attempt once more this yr. I’ve been resetting myself each week and our automotive has been very constant which is totally different in comparison with final yr, in order that’s a energy. For myself, I simply be taught from earlier races and deal with what I can do higher to assist the crew. Now it’s time for us to analyse, reset and push once more in Japan!”

Having struggled with tyre put on all by means of final season, Haas have clearly made big inroads by way of tyre administration for 2024. The American outfit completed within the factors with each vehicles in Melbourne, capitalizing on the misfortunes for Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and George Russell.

The crew’s two drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen sounded relieved and optimistic that they’ve a significantly better platform to construct on in races this yr after usually having dropped down the order in races final yr as a result of heavy tyre put on.

Nico Hulkenberg, ninth

“The primary VSC helped me and I overtook a automotive at every of my stops on the pit exit and that actually made my race at the moment, that along with the VSC and our teamwork – so I’m actually comfortable. Getting P9 and P10 with one high automotive crashing out and Verstappen having to retire, it’s nonetheless the case the place if the highest 5 groups end, there’s not a lot left. I really feel extra inspired at the moment that the automotive felt higher than in qualifying yesterday, which is totally different from final yr, but it surely’s sensible to have it this manner round.”

Kevin Magnussen, tenth

“We bought each vehicles within the factors with nice teamwork as soon as once more. The VSC didn’t assist me, however on the flipside, it helped Nico so we might get him again into the battle and it’s incredible to get three factors right here. It’s very encouraging and it’s a unique approach to go racing; final yr we awoke on race day figuring out it’s not going to be good. In the present day, I awoke figuring out we’d have an opportunity to struggle, and it was true. We had been stronger with our race tempo than qualifying, and we simply have to preserve working on this route.”

Williams have endured a really tough weekend after Alexander Albon had suffered a heavy crash in Free Apply 1. The Thai driver misplaced management of his FW46 with the incident inflicting vital injury to the chassis of his automotive. The crew determined to withdraw Logan Sargeant and hand over the Miami-born driver’s automotive to Albon, believing that they’ve higher possibilities to attain factors with the previous Pink Bull driver on the Albert Park circuit that normally turns into a competition of incidents and interruptions.

The crew’s determination regarded justified in the course of the race as Albon was set to attain factors earlier than operating out of tyres within the last a part of the grand prix. Within the meantime, the crew has despatched the Thai drivers’ chassis again to Grove and it’s hopeful that it could restore the damages it has sustained forward of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Alex Albon, eleventh
“Our early pit stops had been disguising our lack of race tempo at the moment; we tried to remain within the race by pitting early and getting again monitor place however in the end the tempo of our opponents was too sturdy. Each time I attempted to match the tempo with the vehicles round me, I’d grain and after I might do my very own race, I used to be three and a half tenths off the tempo. We had a number of graining and had been combating the automotive in all places, so we have to have an excellent take a look at why. With three of the highest groups retiring, it’s irritating that we couldn’t capitalise on this and our rivals did, but it surely reveals our tempo wasn’t fast sufficient to nonetheless be sitting exterior the factors.

“It’s been a tricky weekend for us at Williams however we’ve pulled by means of fairly effectively and actually come collectively as a crew. Everybody on the monitor has actually dug deep so I can solely thank them for his or her arduous work and dedication and naturally to Logan for being a real crew participant. In truth, I’m fairly proud of my efficiency contemplating the circumstances however we’re going to proceed to rally as a crew and hopefully come again combating in Japan.”

Alpine had a really tough begin to their season after realizing that they’ve slipped right down to the underside finish of the pecking order. Nonetheless, the crew has proven some enhancements over the Melbourne weekend. Esteban Ocon managed to get himself by means of into the second qualifying section, however a tear-off bought caught within the rear brake duct of his automotive within the race which pressured him to carry out an additional cease.

The Enstone-based squad intends to introduce just a few upgrades within the coming races which ought to assist them to shut the hole to their direct rivals, Haas, Kick Sauber, Williams and RB.

Esteban Ocon, sixteenth
“It was an unlucky race at the moment, as we needed to make an additional cease to take away a tear-off caught within the rear brake duct. Earlier than the pit-stop I used to be operating in a bunch with Alex [Albon] and Kevin [Magnussen], and in entrance of Nico [Hülkenberg]. With out that additional cease, we had been most likely in with an opportunity of scoring factors how the race unfolded.

“In the present day, and this weekend usually, the automotive felt a bit higher and reveals that we’re making some progress. We have to take it step-by-step and preserve pushing forward of Japan, which is a race I’m actually trying ahead to, because it’s considered one of my favorite tracks and the followers there make it additional particular.”

Pierre Gasly, thirteenth
“There isn’t any satisfaction to take from at the moment’s consequence as ending exterior of the factors is rarely the place we intend to complete races. We made some progress, although, and we tried to maximise what we had and I’d say we did that at the moment. I attempted my finest contained in the automotive, it was a tough race at instances, however we caught with it proper to the tip.

“We’ll all proceed our collective arduous work. We’ve some elements coming quickly as we preserve closing the hole to these forward of us. It’s been a busy week in Australia and I already stay up for racing in Suzuka, considered one of my favourites on the Method 1 calendar.”

One other promise and one other disappointment! Kick Sauber had a reasonably good qualifying with Valtteri Bottas whereas Zhou Guanyu was pressured to begin the race from the pit lane after reverting to an older specification entrance wing. Nonetheless, the crew encountered points in the course of the pit cease within the third consecutive race.

The Hinwil-based outfit has made precautionary tweaks to the {hardware} for this weekend, however they had been uncertain whether or not the modifications could be sufficient to beat all the problems. Whereas Bottas was held up in Bahrain and Zhou in Jeddah, it was the Finn’s flip in Melbourne to face pit cease points as soon as once more. The crew misplaced a wheelnut that popped out of the gun and rolled into the quick lane and thus doubtlessly into the trail of different vehicles.

Valtteri Bottas, 14th
“It’s by no means nice to see an excellent race come to nothing: it’s irritating as, till the pit cease, issues had been going rather well. We had an excellent begin, most significantly we had sturdy tempo and we should always have gotten factors. It’s apparent that we nonetheless need to work to resolve the problems affecting us: what now we have performed to this point has decreased the incidence so much, however the danger continues to be there – as now we have seen at the moment. There’s a component of unhealthy luck there, and there’s nothing the pit crew might have performed in a different way, it’s a technical subject that must be solved.

“We will nonetheless discover some positives – our efficiency is bettering, now we have made a step ahead with the upgrades the crew has introduced and we should always have been within the factors. We had been combating with Fernando within the opening levels, and I consider P8 or P9 would have been inside attain. We preserve working arduous: there can be extra upgrades coming quickly and I believe we are able to make a good larger step in Japan.”

Zhou Guanyu, fifteenth
“This weekend was a tough one. Ranging from the pit lane is at all times difficult, and being caught in a DRS practice made it tough for me to overhaul. There have been some factors up for grabs for the crew at the moment, however, sadly, we didn’t handle to be up there, combating for them.

“Throughout my second pit cease, I skilled a problem, exterior of my management, associated to my gearbox – after I referred to as for the gear, the automotive stalled which value me loads of time. Total, our race tempo continued to look fairly sturdy and aggressive with the groups round us. It’s been a misplaced alternative, however as a crew, we’ll proceed our work to bounce again in Suzuka.”

F1GP Australiaearlier