Ferrari had a highly successful performance with their two drivers at the Australian Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz secured a first and second place, marking the first time since 2004 that Ferrari achieved such a result in Australia. The team seized the opportunity presented by Max Verstappen’s retirement and showcased their true speed throughout the weekend. Leclerc, a five-time race champion, expressed his confidence in Scuderia’s performance from the first free practice session on Friday.
Sainz, despite recovering from appendicitis surgery, had an impressive performance at the Australian Grand Prix. Despite a challenging qualifying session, the Spanish driver believed that Ferrari was on par with Red Bull at the Albert Park F1 circuit. Leclerc also shared this sentiment, stating that he was convinced of Ferrari’s advantage based on their previous performance in free practice. Even Red Bull’s driver, [driver’s name], acknowledged that the Ferraris were too fast for anyone and would have won even without Verstappen’s retirement.
Both Leclerc and Sainz acknowledged Ferrari’s strong speed in Australia. Sainz, in particular, was thrilled with his victory at the Australian Grand Prix. Starting from the front row, he immediately went on the attack and overtook Verstappen on the second lap, controlling the race. This highlighted the low tire degradation of Scuderia and the impressive speed of the SF-24, allowing Sainz to execute a flawless race.
Despite their success, Ferrari acknowledges the need for further improvements to their car before the next race in Japan. They recognize that Red Bull still holds an advantage on more traditional tracks. However, both Leclerc and Sainz are impressed with the overall characteristics of the car and are determined to achieve more victories throughout the year.