The 2024 Australian Grand Prix delivered in terms of excitement at the front of the grid with Carlos Sainz taking his first victory of the season.
While he benefitted from Max Verstappen’s retirement, the 29-year-old Spaniard was seriously quick all weekend.
There was plenty of action further down the grid as well and covering the race for Sky Sports F1, Martin Brundle questioned one move attempted on the streets of Melbourne.
It’s very rare these days for Verstappen not to win a Grand Prix, let alone to miss out on points altogether.
Ferrari were able to capitalise brilliantly, securing a one-two ahead of Lando Norris on the podium.
However, Charles Leclerc didn’t have a perfect race and one attempted pass before the first round of pit stops nearly cost him.
Martin Brundle questions attempted Charles Leclerc pass during Australian Grand Prix
If you had asked Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur to describe his perfect race weekend, it wouldn’t be far away from what occurred in Australia on Sunday.
After having surgery just two weeks ago, Carlos Sainz returned and proved just how talented a driver he is with a fantastic victory.
Brundle admitted on commentary that he couldn’t believe he wasn’t in contention for the vacant Mercedes seat but that might change if he keeps outperforming his teammate.
Charles Leclerc didn’t nail qualifying like he normally does which meant he had ground to make up.
A penalty for Sergio Perez meant he didn’t need to overtake the Red Bull but he spent plenty of time fighting with both McLaren cars.
He was in a hurry to pass them and although he ultimately finished the race in second thanks to an interesting strategy call from Andrea Stella’s team, he nearly compromised his race in the opening laps.
Leclerc impatience nearly cost him in Melbourne
The Monegasque driver – who now has 32 podiums to his name – was right behind Norris and made an ambitious dive to the inside of turn 11.
That sent him off line and allowed Piastri to close up him, and David Croft said: “I tell you what, under pressure here at the moment Charles Leclerc now from Oscar Piastri.
Brundle added: “Yeah, he made that sort of half-move that’s cost him dearly!”
Leclerc and Oscar Piastri pitted early than Norris allowing them both to undercut the young Brit.
In fact, Leclerc’s pace was so good that Ferrari had to issue an instruction to hold position, although Sainz had a sizeable gap before George Russell’s late accident brought out the virtual safety car.
The pair crossed the finish line just a couple of seconds apart and Leclerc’s now right behind Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship heading to Suzuka.
Leclerc has point to prove at Ferrari ahead of Hamilton arrival
Frederic Vasseur had an incredibly tough call to make over the winter when he realised that Lewis Hamilton was available to sign for 2025.
Contract talks were going on with both drivers, but ultimately it was Carlos Sainz who lost his place in the team.
Leclerc’s future is therefore as safe as any Formula 1 driver’s future can be, but he’s now under pressure to prove that Ferrari made the right call to retain him.
His strength tends to be in qualifying but he was ‘absolutely nowhere’ in Melbourne although that’s nothing to be worried about right now.
Sainz is going from strength to strength but coming up against Hamilton will be a completely different challenge.
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