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On Sunday, March 24, 2024, on the semi-city circuit of Albert Park in Melbourne, the Australian Grand Prix is held, the third race of the Formula 1 World Championship. After the victory in Bahrain, Max Verstappen put in place another dominant display a week later in Saudi Arabia, with Red Bull leaving the second appointment of the season with a one-two. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified on the front row at Sakhir and split the Red Bulls on the grid at Jeddah, with the Scuderia finishing on the podium at both events. Looking at the other teams, Mercedes, McLaren and Aston Martin are trying to understand their new cars and get in the fight for trophies, with the papaya team’s mid-season surge in 2023 a clear example of what can be accomplished from race to race with effective updates. After not participating in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the Spanish Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr., will race in Australia, after passing the medical test of the Federation, scheduled on Thursday. Sainz Jr. only took part in the first two free practice sessions of the previous Grand Prix due to appendicitis. He was substituted by Ferrari’s reserve and Formula 2’s Prema Racing’s driver, the British Oliver Bearman, who made his debut at a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
"You have no idea of the logistical 'acrobatics' that were set up for me to be here and to be ready".
Carlos Sainz Jr. will participate in the Free Practice sessions of the Australian Grand Prix with the hope of being back in the cockpit of his Ferrari SF-24 this Saturday and Sunday. It has been less than two weeks since the Spanish driver underwent surgery for appendicitis. The Scuderia Ferrari driver admits he cannot feel at his best after an unusual lead-up to a Grand Prix:
"After ten days in bed, I can't be at my best. I haven't trained or had a simulator session as I usually would, but the goal remains to put pressure on the Red Bulls. How do I feel? I’ll know better tomorrow after I get in the car and my body has to deal with the G-forces we face in the cockpit. I’m very satisfied with the progress I’ve made in these ten days".
The start of the World Championship has seen Scuderia Ferrari firmly positioned as the second force behind Red Bull Racing, but it is clear that this year (especially if Milton Keynes’ dominance continues) risks becoming a long wait for 2025. It will be in that year that Lewis Hamilton arrives in Maranello as Charles Leclerc’s new teammate at Ferrari, ending a long experience with Mercedes that began in 2013. This adventure has seen the British driver crowned World Champion seven times, but he is certain it will conclude at the end of the season, as announced before the unveiling of the W15, in what Hamilton described as a surreal atmosphere during the presentation of the Anglo-German car. This concerns the Mercedes side, but even at Ferrari, there is a mix of anticipation for the upcoming season and for Lewis Hamilton’s future arrival in place of Carlos Sainz Jr. Many are curious about what the English driver’s arrival could mean, especially in terms of cohabitation with Charles Leclerc. Does the Monegasque driver already feel greater pressure to perform this year while awaiting Hamilton?
"No, I don’t feel it. I just want to do my best work as I have in the past. That’s my only goal, but it won’t add pressure on me. Lewis is a fantastic champion and a great driver, but the best I can do is focus on myself, and that’s what I’ll try to do this year and in the future, just like I’ve done in the past".
In the endless carousel of names in this 2024-2025 silly season, which began much earlier than usual due to various factors, Fernando Alonso could not be left out. The Spanish driver will see his contract with Aston Martin end this year, and he has three possibilities ahead of him: renewal, retirement, or a move to another team. In the latter case, options would not be lacking: Mercedes and Red Bull would be two intriguing destinations for the two-time World Champion in what could be his last hunt for a historic third title. For now, however, it was Alonso himself, always very skilled in managing the media, who tried to quell speculation about a possible team change with a no comment:
"I have nothing to comment on because everything I say now is just speculation and rumours. I think the decision will be made before the summer. At the car presentation I said after a few races, and now I see that at every Grand Prix you ask me the same questions. If I say summer, maybe I’ll have a few races without questions. First, I need to decide how I feel, then I’ll see what options are available".
Many topics were covered during the drivers’ press conference before the Australian Grand Prix, and one of them inevitably concerned Max Verstappen’s future, believed to be close to Mercedes after conflicts within the team between Team Principal Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko. Inevitably, questions were directed to Sergio Perez, who occupies the role of teammate to the three-time reigning champion at Red Bull Racing. Initially, the Mexican was asked if he also has a contractual clause that allows him to leave the team in case of Marko or Horner’s departure, and whether a similar clause is included in his contract, or if he would want one:
"I don’t have it; I don’t know what clause Max has in his contract. I think it’s better to ask him. As far as I know, I believe Max has a contract with the team and is fully committed. The rest isn’t for me to comment on and has nothing to do with me. I’m focusing on what I have to do, and I see no reason to talk about other drivers when we don’t have any facts".
Max Verstappen has already tried to downplay attention surrounding the Horner situation that has unsettled Red Bull Racing in recent months, but during a conference with the press and online media, he definitively put an end to weeks of speculation.
"As far as I know, the Horner situation has been handled correctly so far. It’s important to keep the key figures in a team together because that’s where performance comes from. Who are these key figures? I won’t name names".
Verstappen’s clear words aim to end weeks of speculation about his future, which will be with Red Bull at least until 2028.
"I don’t know what will happen after 2028. If I’ll stay in Formula 1, if I’ll continue, if I’ll sign a new contract, it would be a nice story, even for me personally, to stay until the end. It would mean I was part of a family and a team. I’ve always felt comfortable here at Red Bull. For me, it’s like a second family. In a family, sometimes there are, how to say, differences of opinion. But you can’t choose your family, you can choose your friends. We’re focused on performance; everyone’s main interest is to show our potential".
Regarding the possibility that he might be pushed to Mercedes in 2026 due to concerns that Red Bull Racing’s power unit may not be competitive, Max Verstappen says:
"If I had to worry about every speculation, I’d also have to worry about whether I’ll still be alive tomorrow. I talk with Horner and the people who work in the power unit department, and there’s no reason to panic; it’s not 2026 yet. We’re competing with established engine manufacturers, and it won’t be easy to beat them. But there are many very good people working on the project".
Also regarding a potential future at Mercedes, Max Verstappen emphasises that some past wounds are hard to forget, though he stresses that his relationship with Toto Wolff has never been irreparably damaged:
"Toto and I have had our tough moments. It’s normal when two teams are fighting for the championship. But respect has always been there".
After the week off, Formula 1 is back in Australia for the third round of the season. So far, Red Bull has proven untouchable both in qualifying and in the race; Charles Leclerc and Ferrari have only managed to take one point away from Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez by securing the fastest lap in Saudi Arabia, aided by a DRS assist from lapped driver Daniel Ricciardo. In Bahrain, pole position seemed within reach for Leclerc, while in Saudi Arabia, Verstappen delivered a stunning lap in the first run of Q3 (faster than Hamilton’s pole position in 2021), which the Dutchman described as a lap like that of 2021 without the error in the last corner. Leclerc was no less in the second run, posting his best sectors, but that time only earned him a spot on the front row. In Australia, Leclerc expects a script similar to that of Sakhir and Jeddah:
"I believe we’ll be closer in qualifying and a bit further away in the race. I have no doubt that we’re working well and in the right direction, not just in the last two races, but for 6-7 months now. However, we’re not talking about a gap of a tenth, but three or four, which is significant, but in the factory, they know what to focus on to try to close this gap as soon as possible".
The Horner case, conflicts within Red Bull Racing, and numerous driver market rumours as a consequence of these tensions. As if that were not enough, Formula 1 has recently seen another off-track chapter featuring Susie Wolff and the FIA. Last December, the FIA had launched an inquiry into a supposed conflict of interest between a team principal and a member of the FOM, only to halt the investigation two days later. While names were not mentioned, it was clear that the FIA was focusing on Toto and Susie Wolff, respectively Mercedes team principal and F1 Academy managing director. This move was publicly announced by the FIA through a statement, but it was not well received by Susie Wolff, who recently declared that she filed a complaint against the FIA on March 4, 2024. This action was fully supported by Lewis Hamilton, who this year will be racing his final season with Mercedes before moving to Ferrari. On the eve of the Australian Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion said he is incredibly proud of Susie, standing up for her to launch this significant message. Hamilton has also pointed out a real lack of accountability within F1 and the FIA.
"In the things that happen behind closed doors, there’s no transparency, and we need it, both for us and the fans. How can you trust the sport otherwise? If everything goes well, the position Susie is taking now could create change and have a positive impact, especially for women. It’s still a male-dominated sport, and we live in a time where the message is that if you report something, you’ll be fired, and that’s a terrible narrative to project into the world, especially when we’re talking about inclusivity in this sport".
All this is happening at a rather delicate moment linked to developments in the Horner case, with the Red Bull Racing employee initially having reported the Team Principal for misconduct, but internal investigations had ruled in favour of the British manager and suspended the complainant, who later appealed. In this case, numerous drivers and managers have called for greater transparency, starting with George Russell, director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association:
"If things are transparent and we see the outcomes of these cases, we all have the opportunity to judge for ourselves with all the facts and figures in front of us, but when those aren’t there, and there’s no transparency, you always think something is being hidden. That’s why I think this is a very important moment for Formula 1, as Lewis said, to send the right message to everyone who supports, watches, and wants to be involved in Formula 1".
On Friday, March 22, 2024, during the first session of free practice, there is a great balance among the drivers: the first six are inside the range of 78 thousandths of a second, while the first ten are within three tenths. The best is Lando Norris, who preceded Verstappen and Russell. The two Red Bull Racing cars seemed a little unstable, so much so that both drivers were forced to make frequent driving corrections. Sainz Jr., back after two weeks off, closes with the eighth time. The other Spaniard, Fernando Alonso, only took part in the final part of the session after having damaged the floor of his Aston Martin in the first minutes. The session, about 20 minutes from the end, was interrupted with a red flag, due to an accident which involved Alexander Albon. The Williams driver went off track at turn 6, hitting the wall with the right part of his car; then rebounded towards the outside part of the corner, also damaging its left side. In the second session, the best time, on softs, was that of Charles Leclerc, who was also very fast on mediums. The good competitiveness of Ferrari is also shown by the 3rd time of Carlos Sainz Jr.; between the two drivers of the Italian team, there was Verstappen. However, the World Champion had some understeer problems. Also, Aston Martin and McLaren demonstrated their speed, and the latter was very consistent, mainly in the race simulation. Mercedes seemed to have more difficulties, and made some comparative tests on different kinds of floors. Albon did not take part in the session: the team does not have a spare chassis and was not able to repair the one damaged in the morning on time. For the rest of the weekend, Williams decide to give Albon his teammate’s car, Logan Sargeant, who has been forced to not participate in the Grand Prix. Scuderia Ferrari can only draw encouraging signs from FP2. The Maranello cars were very effective both in dry laps and in race pace simulations, suggesting they could pose a threat to the defending World Champion team ahead of Sunday’s race. However, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur tries to temper enthusiasm, avoiding comparisons with the situation currently faced by the reigning World Champion team at Albert Park.
"Are we as strong today as Red Bull usually is? No, I don’t think we can say that. We need to focus on ourselves. They will also have their work to do, but today went well for us. I’m happy for Carlos, who managed to complete his long stint without pain, and I believe he can finally turn a page and start focusing on the weekend, which is great news. Charles also performed very well in terms of consistency and race pace. All of this is encouraging for tomorrow, but in Melbourne, due to track evolution, each day is unique. Tomorrow morning we start from zero. There’s a good feeling about the car. We have work to do on the details, but we’re heading in the right direction. Can we compete with Red Bull? The pace was good, and Red Bull had some issues. However, I don’t want to make comparisons. We did well with both cars, and that’s good news for us".
Caution and confidence. This could summarise the state of mind of Charles Leclerc at the end of FP2. The Monegasque driver was pleased to record the fastest time on Friday, ahead of Max Verstappen by almost 0.4 seconds. Carlos Sainz Jr.’s third position in the second SF-24 confirms that the car is quite competitive. However, looking at the sessions that will truly matter, the Monegasque driver is cautious about expectations.
"I feel good for now. We did well in FP1 and FP2, but now we need to keep working very hard because I’m sure we will see surprises tomorrow. There’s still room for improvement. Our race simulation was quite good".
The incident involving Alex Albon with Williams during the morning session confirmed how challenging the Albert Park track can be:
"Everything is very difficult here; it’s a tricky circuit with high kerbs, there’s wind, and there’s only one racing line: when you go off that, you lose a lot of grip. For now, we’re fast, but we need to wait for tomorrow".
Charles Leclerc is aware that, compared to the first Grands Prix, Ferrari has a better chance of winning in Melbourne:
"Pole position? We are in a better position than in the first two races, but Red Bull isn’t pushing yet. We need to wait and see what their potential is. I think they’re still ahead, but we might have our best chance since the start of the season. The race pace was very good, but again, it’s hard to make comparisons because some drivers faced traffic".
It was expected that Carlos Sainz Jr. would not be in peak physical condition at the Melbourne track, but initial signs seem promising. In FP2, only his teammate Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen were faster than him.
"The last two weeks haven’t been easy, and today I’m very happy to have completed two sessions of practice fairly smoothly. Now I’m focusing on progressing step by step, so I can arrive at qualifying and the race in the best possible shape. The car seems to be performing well this weekend: I’ll do everything I can to extract the maximum from both the car and my body".
The first two practice sessions of the Australian Grand Prix somewhat materialised the concerns expressed by Toto Wolff in the lead-up, especially during FP2. The most evident demonstration is in George Russell’s third position in FP1, just 0.033 seconds behind Lando Norris’s best time, although the British driver could not go beyond sixth in the following session. However, the real disappointment emerged in the performance of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who consistently trailed his teammate.
"Today the feelings weren’t the best. We started the day on the right foot, and in FP1, the car was generally good. The first run was indeed the best the car has felt all year. To continue learning, we made some significant changes in FP2, and unfortunately, the car got worse. It was tough, but we can take positives from the first session. We’ll work hard overnight to make improvements for tomorrow".
FP2 was obviously disappointing for George Russell’s ambitions as well, close to setting a good time but then slipping back due to a mistake:
"Today we were pushing the limits, and I had a few moments of difficulty. In the end, though, it was all under control. The first session was very competitive, while FP2 was a bit more spread out. I was about to do an excellent lap on the last lap with the soft tyres, but I went wide in the last two corners and sustained minor damage to the front wing. Without that issue, I believe we would have finished P3. We’re trying to better understand this car and made some adjustments after Saudi Arabia. Every single lap is valuable for learning more about the car and getting it to the right point. The team at the factory will work hard in the simulator to gain more performance. Let’s see what tomorrow brings. When you arrive the next day, things can often be very different".
At the end of the first day of free practice, the Williams Racing team decided to give Logan Sargeant's car to Alex Albon, who, in the impact against the wall, damaged the chassis. James Vowles, Williams’ Team Principal, reflects on the team’s issues and points out some important things:
"We are hugely disappointed that the damage sustained to the chassis has meant we need to withdraw the car from the weekend. It's unacceptable in modern-day Formula 1 not to have a spare chassis, but it is a reflection of how behind we were in the winter period and an illustration of why we need to go through significant change in order to get ourselves in a better position for the future. As a result, we have had some very difficult decisions to make this afternoon. While Logan should not have to suffer from a mistake that he did not make, every race counts when the midfield is tighter than ever, so we have made the call based on our best potential to score points this weekend. This decision was not made lightly, and we cannot thank Logan enough for his graceful acceptance, demonstrating his dedication to the team; he is a true team player. This will prove a tough weekend for Williams, and this situation is not one that we will put ourselves in again".
Alex Albon thinks about his teammate’s situation:
"I have to be totally honest and say that no driver would want to give up his seat. I would never want anything like this to happen. Logan has always been a consummate professional and a team player from day one, and this won't be an easy one for him to take. At this point though, I cannot dwell on the situation and my only job now is to maximise our potential this weekend and work with the whole team to make sure we do the best job possible".
For his part, Logan Sargeant is sad about the situation:
"This is the hardest moment I can remember in my career and it's absolutely not easy. I am, however, completely here for the team and will continue to contribute in any way that I can this weekend to maximise what we can do".
The Australian Grand Prix, just like the first two of this season, seems destined to be more than just action on the track. After FP2, speculation around the driver market reignites. Ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen attempted to quell rumours regarding a potential departure from Red Bull Racing at the end of the season, reiterating that he has a contract with the Milton Keynes team until the end of 2028 and intends to honour it. Now, however, it is Toto Wolff who reopens possibilities for a hypothetical - stunning - move of the three-time world champion.
"There are issues within the team. We need to give him time to decide on his future without pressure from us. Max is in the fastest car, and that’s what a driver always seeks. Moreover, he is in the best phase of his career. So it’s up to him to decide what to do next. Yes, I expect it. A few months ago, I would never have expected to say that. I don’t want to speculate too much on his thoughts or put pressure on him. Right now, he’s in the best car and has a great relationship with Red Bull, but perhaps the entire working environment isn’t what it should be at the moment. In due time, Max, Jos, and Raymond (manager Vermeulen, ed.) will have to decide what their priority is: the car, results, or certain values within the team that can be respected or not and that they consider important? Knowing them well enough, I believe that Max and Jos are very attached to clear values. Jos and I are the same age. I believe we’ve always respected each other and share the same kind of humour. I think the most important thing is that neither of us likes nonsense. Jos knows more about racing than I do, and also about Max. Perhaps I know a little more about managing an organisation. It’s a shame there’s been some rivalry, but I will always defend my driver, and they probably would have done the same. Reflecting on 2021, it’s clear I made some mistakes, but I can’t turn back time. Max, Jos, and I have talked about it, and everything has been clarified. I believe that in replacing Lewis Hamilton’s role, there’s only a small group of interesting drivers for us. Among them are some drivers who won’t rush into decisions. There are short-term and long-term options for drivers. There’s a certain situation at Red Bull. So, presumably, Max will decide his future in the coming weeks depending on how the situation develops. Is he the number one on the wish list? It’s a great opportunity. We already knew Lewis could leave after this year when he signed his contract. But at the same time, this creates opportunities for us, while Ferrari and McLaren don’t have available seats. I want to let my mind wander over the next two or three months and then decide which direction to take. We prefer to walk toward the right decision rather than rush into the wrong one".
On the eve of the Australian Grand Prix, Susie Wolff - head of the F1 Academy - officially announced the decision to turn to the French courts to file a criminal complaint against the FIA. The case, clearly, is related to the alleged conflict of interest between her and her husband Toto, raised by Business F1 Magazine and challenged by the FIA for further investigation by the ethics committee. In this regard, Toto Wolff does not shy away from questions about the issue, obviously supporting his wife’s move:
"First of all, Susie is a strong woman who doesn’t accept impositions from anyone and stands by her beliefs and values, as she is doing now. We’re talking about a very detached and pragmatic person who believes an error has been made, and the court will hear her. Nothing will distract her; that’s her character. She has acted diligently and will see it through. It’s very important for her to discover what happened. It’s important that people take responsibility for their actions and that things aren’t swept under the rug".
The reference to Red Bull and FIA in terms of transparency becomes clear:
"I think as a sport, we need to do this across all areas, whether it’s Susie’s case or cases related to certain teams".
Charles Leclerc is the best on Saturday, March 23, 2024, and manages to set a new track record in his last attempt. Due to the rain falling at night, the track temperature is lower compared to Friday, at least in the first stages of the session. Behind the Monegasque, there is Verstappen, while third is Sainz Jr., who set the time on mediums, not on softs. Verstappen complained again about the car’s setup, saying that the mediums were better than softs. All the drivers tried to run two warm-up laps before starting to set the times. Hamilton is fourth; the Mercedes have not yet been able to exploit the mediums, while they are faster on softs. At the end of the free practice session on Friday, Carlos Sainz Jr. was summoned by the stewards for not having followed the instructions established by the race director. The Spanish Ferrari driver has completed a start test before receiving the end-of-session signal. Sainz Jr. receives a reprimand related to driving. Before qualifying, on Kevin Magnussen’s car the second gearbox and the second transmission are installed. The Danish Haas driver is not penalised on the starting grid as the new components installed are among those usable in the maximum number established by the technical regulation. Albon, the first on track, complains about some leaves on the track. After the two Haas arrive, Verstappen takes first place, still complaining about understeer. Leclerc, instead, asks for a darker visor. Sainz Jr. takes the command, immediately defeated by his teammate, Leclerc. The two McLarens are 5th and 6th, while Ocon touches the wall on the exit of the last corner, thus suffering from a puncture. Russell is only P14, with Hamilton 5th. Lando Norris is third, defeated by Piastri, at only 125 thousandths from Leclerc. Then it is Fernando Alonso to take the lead (1'16"991); Verstappen is 0.238 seconds from the Spaniard. Perez improves and finishes between the two Ferraris. Sainz Jr. improves Alonso’s time (1'16"731).
This time, Leclerc is not able to file his teammate’s time. Russell improves, P9, defeated by Hamilton for 23 thousandths. Perez is now second, while Alexander Albon 5th. Verstappen sets the 3rd time, less than a tenth from Leclerc. In the final stages, Ricciardo is P10, Lance Stroll 5th, while Hamilton 11th. Tsunoda is seventh, with Ocon P15. Ricciardo’s time is cancelled due to track limits: so he is eliminated, together with Hülkenberg, Gasly and Zhou. In Q2, Sainz Jr. sets the reference: 1'16"671. The Ferrari driver’s time is overtaken by Max Verstappen (1'16"387), who sets the track record. Leclerc and Albon are, respectively, third and fourth. Norris is P4, Lewis Hamilton P6; Oscar Piastri manages to improve and sets the fastest first sector, closing P2. Russell is seventh, just ahead of the other Mercedes. Sainz Jr. again does the best performance, in 1'16"189. Perez, who improves in the first sector, lowers his time and is fourth. Third place again for Leclerc. Alonso is seventh, ahead of the Mercedes duo, while Stroll is tenth. Hamilton, due to a mistake at the penultimate corner, is still ninth. In their last attempt, the Aston Martins and Yuki Tsunoda improve so much that Hamilton is out of the first ten. The other drivers eliminated are: Albon, Bottas, Magnussen and Ocon. In the final phase of qualifying, Sainz Jr. is the first to close a lap, in 1'16"331. George Russell stops at 0"544 from the Spaniard’s time. Not even Leclerc manages to beat Sainz Jr.’s time, staying 0"104 away. Piastri sets a 1'16"867; Tsunoda is further away, a second behind Sainz Jr. A little after, Verstappen takes the temporary pole position, with 1'16"048; Norris closes fourth, beaten, then, by Perez. Stroll does just an attempt, while Alonso ruins the first, going off track. With the second fast lap, Verstappen improves in the first sector, but his time is beaten by Sainz Jr..
Only with the second sector the Red Bull Racing driver manages to get a positive margin on the Ferrari. At the end of the lap, Verstappen takes down the limit to 1'15"915, while the Spaniard closes in 1'16"185. Piastri goes P5. Norris is able to defeat Piastri, while Russell is P5. Leclerc does not complete his attempt, remaining in fifth place. The qualifying session for the Australian Grand Prix sees Max Verstappen shine once again, as he secures his third consecutive pole position, despite a less dominant RB20 than usual.
"The pole wasn't really expected this time, but I'm very satisfied with this Q3. Both laps went very well, I really enjoyed it. The weekend has been difficult, but in the end we managed it and I'm very happy. The race will be very strategic; they [Ferrari] seem very fast on long runs. There’s a question mark for tomorrow, but that makes things exciting".
Behind him was a fantastic Carlos Sainz Jr., who managed to place his Ferrari on the front row, ahead of the other Red Bull Racing driver, Sergio Perez.
"Is the front row possible? Yes, there was definitely more I could have extracted from the car. I didn't perform as well as I wanted in the first sector, but I'm fairly satisfied. Given how the weekend has gone, I think it was a nice progression. Tomorrow we can fight alongside the Ferraris. The race will be long and the starting position might not be decisive. Is top speed crucial? We’ll find out tomorrow; we’ve partially changed our strategy. We’ll see who survives, also considering tyre degradation".
In Melbourne, the public's attention was on Charles Leclerc, considered by nearly everyone as Max Verstappen's main rival for pole position. Instead, it was Carlos Sainz Jr. who impressed, taking second place just fifteen days after his appendectomy.
"Everything I'm doing is part of the recovery program for tomorrow. So far, I’ve only done 15-20 laps per session, which isn’t much. Tomorrow I’ll have to do 58 consecutive laps, which is a lot more. Every day I feel better. I won’t be at 100%, but I’m not worried because I have no pain. I have some strange sensations in the car; it moves around a bit, but that’s normal".
Despite the aftereffects of surgery, Carlos Sainz Jr. is confident about his chances for the race - definitely more so than Charles Leclerc suggested - and believes he can even aim for victory with a bit of luck:
"Without pain, I can push, and having a good feeling with the car, we can do well. I feel good, and so far the degradation on the front is good, but we tried the medium tyres, not the hard ones yet. If I feel good tomorrow and if we do a perfect job, I think we can win".
In contrast, Charles Leclerc disappointed, finishing only fifth and even being outpaced by Lando Norris's McLaren. From dream to disappointment. The qualifying session in Australia was the best chance for Scuderia Ferrari to beat Red Bull Racing at the start of the season. Instead, Q3 turned out to be a cruel joke for the Monegasque driver, who not only failed to snatch pole position from Verstappen but even dropped to the third row. Two significant errors ruined his second run:
"We may have underestimated the power of Red Bull in qualifying and FP3, so pole would have been difficult, but I didn’t maximise the car, that’s clear. I didn’t do a good job in FP3 and lost my feeling with the car, but I still managed to put in a lap and was confident that feeling would return in qualifying. Instead, I lost it even more".
Continuing his analysis of an unexpectedly tough Saturday, Charles Leclerc admitted to having pushed too hard on his last attempt, not only in terms of driving but also in the setup of the front wing:
"The best thing we can do now is focus on tomorrow, hoping that the race pace can bring us back to our position. Yesterday the front was very good, but this morning we lost it a bit, and in qualifying, it was a lot. On the last run, I went very aggressive with the front flap, but we probably went in the wrong direction. I wanted to try something, but looking back, I should have perhaps settled for third place and stayed ahead. I wanted to try something, but I was too aggressive".
Looking ahead to the race, the Monegasque driver seems convinced that he can aim for a podium finish:
"There are four DRS zones, so everything is possible for tomorrow. We'll see, but the race pace isn’t bad, so the podium is always the goal. Realistically, winning is difficult, even starting second like Carlos will. I think Red Bull’s pace is better than ours, unless there’s a surprise tomorrow".
Considering how the free practices went and the first two parts of qualifying, it was expected that Scuderia Ferrari could aim for pole position in the Australian Grand Prix. However, the Maranello team only managed to secure the front row, thanks to a stellar performance by Carlos Sainz Jr., second despite being weakened from his recent appendectomy. Nevertheless, the fifth place of the Monegasque driver does not worry Scuderia Ferrari’s Team Principal, Frederic Vasseur, who defends Charles Leclerc and praises Carlos Sainz Jr.’s second place.
"The goal is always pole, we have the pace. It's true that we did well in free practices, as well as in Q1 and Q2, and then something happened in Q3, when it was all more important, but we can’t point fingers at the drivers".
Vasseur focuses on the positives:
"First of all, I think of Carlos, who made this incredible recovery from two weeks ago, and we can be optimistic for tomorrow’s long run. However, I believe there is still a performance gap; we need to be clear-headed and honest with ourselves. We are still a bit behind, and if we want to catch Red Bull, we have to push a bit harder".
While Scuderia Ferrari seems to have missed an opportunity, the McLarens shone on Australian Saturday, confirming their role as the third force. In addition to Lando Norris in fourth, Oscar Piastri also delivered a good performance, sixth, just 0.1 seconds behind Charles Leclerc's SF-24.
"I'm happy with today. Battling with the Red Bulls and Ferraris will be a tough challenge, but if we can stay ahead of one of them, I'd be happy. Today I had a feeling I don’t often experience; I felt comfortable in the car. I expect Red Bull to be a step ahead with the tyres. After lap 15, you could see things starting to go well".
Oscar Piastri also expressed satisfaction, confident in the potential of his MCL38:
"I have mixed feelings. I think in terms of position it went quite well. I’m just disappointed because Q3 was a bit complicated. I had good momentum in Q1 and Q2, but then I made too many mistakes. I believe there were more opportunities today. I messed up the first corner in both Q3 laps. Let’s see what we can do tomorrow. Lando did a good job finishing ahead of Charles. It will be an interesting race. The graining we saw after FP2 was significant, so hopefully we can exploit that to our advantage, but beating Ferrari and Red Bull will be tough".
It was also a day to forget for Lewis Hamilton: the future Ferrari driver was eliminated in Q2 and will start from P11. The English driver just cannot extract the potential from the W15 at the start of the season. What was supposed to be a car that finally worked, as they cheered in Brackley before testing, is instead proving to be weak in slow corners, unstable, and fickle. And, as Lewis Hamilton adds, sensitive to the wind.
"Qualifying is always difficult for us; I can’t say I’m too surprised. I’m certainly disappointed because the car was good until FP3, and I hoped the weekend would go better than this, but evidently, we’re not there yet. It’s not one of the toughest moments; it’s exactly like the last two years. The car is inconsistent; there are times when I feel very good, like this morning, it felt like a better car and you get into a certain mindset for qualifying. Then suddenly it’s different, and we can’t keep up with the others’ times. It’s a matter of stability, of top speed in corners 3 and 4, and as soon as there’s wind, the car is very sensitive".
This week, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem was completely cleared of accusations made against him by informants at the FIA Ethics Committee regarding alleged interference in the outcome of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the organisation of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. It is no secret that the president has long been under scrutiny from personal enemies, and every action he takes is closely examined. In the days leading up to the Australian Grand Prix, the FIA was also sued in a French court by Susie Wolff over the handling of the alleged conflict of interest between her and her husband, Toto. However, Ben Sulayem is not backing down and shares his thoughts on the current situation in a letter addressed to FIA members. The president explains that the recent allegations have shaken the FIA, creating an unprecedented period of turmoil. Ben Sulayem speaks of malicious attacks carried out with one clear objective:
"To strike at the very heart of our leadership and undermine our Federation from within. The FIA has fallen victim to leaks of confidential and sensitive information that have tarnished its reputation and caused concern among its members. Despite these attacks directed at me and our organisation, we have emerged stronger and more resolute than ever. We know that the ultimate goal was to target me and weaken the FIA. I remain steadfast in my commitment and will work to create an environment of transparency, accountability, and unwavering integrity within the Federation".
On Sunday, March 24, 2024, before the race, on Daniel Ricciardo’s car, the second unit relating to the internal combustion engine, the turbocharger, the MGU-H and the MGU-K, and the third unit relating to the exhaust system are installed. The Australian RB driver is not penalised on the starting grid as the new components installed are among those usable in the maximum number established by the technical regulation. On Zhou Guanyu’s car a new spare front wing is installed, together with some changes to the suspension’s setup. The elements are installed with specifications other than those originally used, and are replaced with the approval of the technical delegate of the Federation during the closed park regime. Zhou is forced to start from the pit lane. Alonso and Hülkenberg start on hards; Ricciardo, Gasly and Hamilton on softs; the remaining drivers chose mediums. Verstappen at the start defends himself from Sainz Jr.; they are followed by Norris, Leclerc, Piastri and Russell. On lap 2, the Ferrari driver takes the lead while, a little after, Verstappen has some braking problems and is forced to retire, right after coming out of the pits again. Hamilton changes compounds on lap 7. The Mercedes driver switches to hards. After three laps, Leclerc and Piastri pit. The Monegasque emerges behind Pierre Gasly, but passes him very soon. Piastri does the same. On lap 15, Lando Norris and Perez stop. The McLaren driver delayed the tyre change, and emerges behind Leclerc and Piastri. Sainz Jr. is the leader, ahead of Alonso, Leclerc, Piastri, Norris and Nico Hülkenberg. Perez is tenth, ahead of Hamilton. On lap 16, George Russell passes Gasly for P7. A lap later, it is Sainz Jr.’s turn to pit. A few moments later, Lewis Hamilton has to retire; the necessity to secure his vehicle forces the race direction to declare the virtual safety car regime. This allows Fernando Alonso to pit. The Grand Prix sees the two Ferraris in the lead, followed by the two McLaren, then Alonso, Russell and Perez.
On lap 21, Sergio Pérez passes Russell and, six laps later, Alonso too. A little later, McLaren tells Piastri to give Norris the position, because he is faster. 32 laps later, Sainz Jr. has a detachment of 7.8 seconds over Leclerc, 10.3 seconds over Norris, 13 seconds over Piastri and more than 23 seconds over Pérez. Norris reduces the gap from Leclerc, who pits for the second time, after 35 race laps. The Ferrari driver mounts the hards and emerges just ahead of Perez, who stops a lap later, managing to maintain the position. Oscar Piastri, after a driving mistake at the last turn, pits again, on lap 40. On the following lap, it is Norris’ turn. On lap 42, also Carlos Sainz Jr. stops; Piastri, on the same lap, passes Alonso. Sainz Jr. is still in the lead, with 5 seconds ahead of Leclerc, 9.5 seconds ahead of Norris, 18.4 seconds ahead of Russell, who did not stop, and 28.3 seconds ahead of Perez. Russell only stops on the 46th lap. The Brit emerges behind Perez and Alonso. Norris, on lap 49, sets the fastest lap. However his record is beaten by Leclerc. In the last laps Russell stalks Alonso; on the penultimate lap, the Mercedes driver loses control of his car, at turn 6, goes to the escape route, and then back on track and stops in the middle of it. The last two laps are run under virtual safety car. Carlos Sainz Jr. wins the third Grand Prix of his career. All three successes of his career have been set at different Grands Prix. Sainz Jr. and Verstappen are the only two winners in the last eleven months. Scuderia Ferrari gives its fans a memorable awakening and achieves a historic one-two in Australia. Success for the incredible Carlos Sainz Jr., who, just fifteen days after an appendectomy, gifts himself and the entire Maranello team a special triumph. This marks the first victory for a driver who did not compete in the previous Grand Prix since 1994, when Michael Schumacher won the European Grand Prix after missing the two preceding races due to a suspension. Who would have ever bet on Carlos Sainz Jr. winning in Australia? The Spanish driver is making a remarkable start to the 2024 season, and without his current physical issues, he would likely be leading the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship for the first time in his career. With the knowledge that he has his bags packed, this situation boosts Sainz Jr.’s pride but also makes it more bittersweet, as he faces leaving a blossoming Scuderia Ferrari at the end of the season. As the Spanish driver himself emphasised, it is now purely a moment for happiness:
"I’m feeling good, just the last few laps were a bit long and I was lacking some strength. Honestly, it was a very clean race, and I was able to manage the tyres and myself. I’m super happy because after what happened this year, you realise that life is like this. You start the year with the news of not being renewed and prepare to have the best season possible with all the training you can. You arrive in Bahrain and get on the podium, realizing that you’ve started the season well, and then appendicitis hits. You don’t know when you’ll be back, then you return and win. Life is very beautiful and difficult, and now I’m very happy. This victory shows that when you do things right and work well, anything is possible. We worked well over the winter, giving the team very clear indications on where to improve the car, and this year the team brought a car that allows us to push harder and make fewer mistakes, in addition to being faster. When you give me a car like this, I can win. This circuit is particularly good for us; we saw that in 2022 and also last year. However, this is a different car; I enjoy driving it more, and today I was able to manage the tyres comfortably and do everything I wanted, overtaking Max at the beginning and putting him under pressure. It’s a big step forward, and I’m very happy".
Charles Leclerc plays the team player, both on and off the track. When the team asked him to hold positions during the Australian Grand Prix, with a one-two in sight, the Monegasque driver did not hesitate. Even in interviews, Charles Leclerc honours the performance of his teammate, who has started the season better and wants to show Scuderia Ferrari that they made a mistake in letting him go to hire Lewis Hamilton, and now he has already achieved the first victory of the season.
The feeling didn’t return exactly as it was on Friday when I was very comfortable with the car. The stint where we struggled was the first with the hard tyres, and with the Safety Car causing some graining, I couldn’t recover the tyre from there. The third stint was good, but overall the race wasn’t good enough to catch Carlos, who had an exceptional race. I would have struggled to reach Carlos, especially since we had two different strategies, but I believed until the end. Even in the last stint, I told myself I could make it, but whether Carlos or I win, for the team it’s the same, and it’s a great day because the one-two is the best possible result. It’s hard to say on a day when we’re all happy, but we have to keep our feet on the ground. We had a race where we were very strong, but we mustn’t forget that by lap 4, Max was no longer there, and he is usually the benchmark in the race. We should be satisfied with what we did and continue working. We know we are not yet at the level of Red Bull in the race, but we also know that we are the team that has improved the most in the last six months, which gives me a lot of hope for the coming months. We couldn’t have done better for the team. I wasn’t in great shape yesterday or today, but with 2nd place and the fastest lap, we got the points we wanted. Carlos did an amazing job, and I’m happy for the team with this one-two: that’s what we need to keep aiming for until the end of the season. If we look at the first three races, there hasn’t been one where we said, ‘We could have done better,’ because we maximised everything we had in the car, and we need to keep going like this".
The one-two for Scuderia Ferrari highlights the strengths of a car that has been easier to understand and tune since the early practice sessions. Frederic Vasseur admits:
"We have been competitive from the first lap of the first day. I think we didn’t just have a good race but a good weekend right from the start. Today’s victory was built on Friday. When we remain free from problems during practice sessions, we show up to the race in better condition".
This season, Scuderia Ferrari seems capable of coming to the track with a good starting base, a quality already appreciated last season and indicative of the solid work done in the simulator.
"I think we are ready right from the start for the weekends. However, when there are small reliability issues or you don’t have a clean day, you end up losing time. When racing against Red Bull, you can’t afford to lose a single lap. Since the start of the season, we’ve had solid practice sessions".
The only note in Australia is the missed pole position, which seemed attainable:
"In qualifying, we felt we could have done a better job, but it wasn’t an issue, considering that the race was focused on tyre management. I don’t focus on Red Bull’s performance but on ours. We made a huge leap in consistency with the various compounds and across different stints. The car is much easier to drive and understand for the drivers, as well as easier to develop. This is the biggest step forward from last year: I wouldn’t say it’s an easy car to manage, but rather that it allows us to reach a good setup compromise sooner for the weekend".
The French manager, by nature and by role, allows for celebrations but at the same time tempers enthusiasm:
“It’s really too early to talk about a title fight with Red Bull. We’ve made a big step forward compared to last season. We’ll aim to replicate the pace from Friday in Suzuka, but we don’t want to jump to conclusions today. We need to stay committed without thinking we’ve arrived, continuing to focus on our goals. Since the beginning of the season, I’ve said that our drivers are doing very well and pushing each other to improve session by session. This is part of an emulative process that is necessary within the team. They are very smart on the track as well; when we asked them to hold positions, everything went perfectly from the first lap. This year, the car is easier for us and the drivers to read, and it’s a better base for developing and improving throughout the weekend. We are more consistent, unlike last year. It’s really too early to reach conclusions, but we’re definitely doing better than twelve months ago. The road ahead is very long; we are at the beginning of the season, and the key thing is to understand the car and get the best out of the package we have. I don’t know, and no one knows, if this one-two would have happened without Verstappen’s retirement. If we compare with Perez’s pace, it seems manageable, but we can’t know, and it’s a completely different situation. We need to enjoy what happened; we still have 20-21 races to fight with Max. The pace has been excellent from the start; I’d say one of the cleanest weekends in my last twelve months. From FP1, we found the right pace, we were always at the front and very consistent in the long run, and today in the race, we did very well. There’s still a bit of room for improvement for the upcoming weekends, but this is true for everyone on the grid. We no longer have winter testing, so we need a couple of events to better understand the car. I’d say we did very well this weekend, but in the end, Suzuka will be a completely different situation, and it will start from scratch. It’s not guaranteed that it will be like this every weekend; we need to keep pushing and developing with this mindset without thinking that we’ve made it or that everything is done. The team is more than motivated, and we will continue to push. The setup for the weekend was right; the balance has been right from the first lap of the first day, and that makes a huge difference because then we can focus on the details. I believe it was clear to everyone that everything went perfectly from start to finish. Now let’s enjoy this weekend, then we’ll see what the future holds”.
Completing the podium is McLaren’s Lando Norris, who was unable to close in sufficiently on Leclerc’s SF-24 for an attack in the race's final moments. The unexpected retirement of Max Verstappen, which occurred on lap 3 due to brake issues, opened the door for Scuderia Ferrari to claim its first victory of the season and, more importantly, the one-two that had eluded the Maranello team since the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2022. In that case, it was Charles Leclerc who won ahead of Carlos Sainz Jr., while this year it was the Spaniard who finished ahead of the Monegasque. This also adds satisfaction for Lando Norris, who was once Carlos Sainz Jr.'s teammate at McLaren. Third in Melbourne and for the fourteenth time in his career on the podium, the English driver finished his race just ahead of his current teammate Oscar Piastri, the home favourite in Australia and close to realizing his podium dream in front of his fans. Yet, despite the satisfaction, Lando Norris has a small regret. The race's conclusion, conducted under Virtual Safety Car due to a serious incident involving George Russell, blocked any attempts by the McLaren driver to improve his performance, which he believes could have concluded in second place.
"I think our pace was good throughout the weekend. Saturday we put everything together excellently. Friday we showed good long-run pace and good high fuel load speed, but I didn’t expect we could compete with the Ferraris. I think our pace wasn’t as good as Carlos’s but probably better than Charles’s. So, to be honest, we might have lost a bit of the opportunity to be second. But yes, I believe it’s a good sign for the whole team. It’s a nice boost, and it’s great to be back on the podium. Regardless of whether Red Bull was there or not, our pace was good today, and we hope it continues like this for the upcoming races".
Oscar Piastri also feels happy, even without the satisfaction of a podium and facing some difficulties during the Grand Prix:
"Fourth place is a good result for us. I think the pace was good the whole time. I struggled a bit with the first set of hards; I wore them out a bit, and then I had a little moment of difficulty. However, I think it was a very good day in terms of points for the team. I don’t think I could have done much more on my part, so yes, I’m very happy. I’m close to the podium, but it will come. Lando did a great job today finishing in third. All in all, we’re taking home a successful weekend".
The standout news of the Australian Grand Prix is undoubtedly Max Verstappen’s retirement. The Dutch driver interrupted a streak of 43 consecutive points finishes, stopping before the chequered flag right in Melbourne, where he last had a retirement in 2022. While the race was still ongoing, Max Verstappen stopped to talk with reporters, showing that he had at least partially processed the great anger he had expressed immediately after stepping down from his RB20:
"Brake problem? Yes, there was overheating. The brakes caught fire, and the car became difficult to drive, and I couldn’t brake anymore. It’s a shame because at the beginning the car seemed to be going well, but unfortunately, we couldn’t demonstrate that. Am I angry? Well, it’s never nice to retire. The right rear brake was essentially always activated, and that caused the issue. It’s a sport where mechanics count; an inconvenience can happen, and it happened".
After securing pole position, Red Bull Racing thought it could rely on its usual unbeatable race pace to secure a tenth consecutive victory spanning the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Instead, a brake problem halted Max Verstappen, while Sergio Perez could not finish better than fifth, nearly a minute behind Carlos Sainz Jr.’s Ferrari. After the race, Christian Horner explains:
"Max’s brake issue is obviously very disappointing. From the start, he felt like he was stuck, as if the handbrake was pulled. For the first time in two years, we didn’t finish a race; it’s very frustrating. With Sergio, we had floor damage, so he lost quite a bit of downforce at the car's rear. Then he also struggled with the tyres, which is rather unusual for us. We have a lot to learn from this race, but it’s disappointing to come home with fifth place".
Horner concludes his analysis by discussing Ferrari’s one-two:
"Congratulations to Carlos, especially after his appendicitis operation. He had a very, very strong race and was the dominant Ferrari driver. Congratulations to him and Ferrari. The rivals have definitely closed the gap".
Sergio Perez, lacking competitiveness, finished the race in fifth place, nearly a minute behind the winner. Interviewed after the race, the Mexican driver shares his perspective:
"Unfortunately, we didn’t have the necessary pace. At the beginning, we struggled, and we saw Ferrari and McLaren one step ahead of us. We have work to do for the upcoming races, and throughout the weekend, we struggled to find the best grip. We didn’t have the rhythm from Friday and never managed the tyres well".
When asked directly about a potential Ferrari victory even with Max Verstappen in the race, Sergio Perez has no doubts:
"Absolutely yes, they would have won anyway".
The standings in the Constructors' World Championship, after three Grands Prix, are clear: Mercedes is currently the fourth force, closely pursued by Aston Martin. This is certainly not the result Toto Wolff had hoped for at the start of the World Championship. It is particularly difficult to accept the double zero in Melbourne, with Lewis Hamilton sidelined due to a mechanical failure and George Russell finishing his race against the wall.
"As someone at the top, I need to ensure my contribution is positive and creative. I would be the first to say, if someone has a better idea, let me know. I’m interested in turning the team around as quickly as possible and I would gladly contribute. I look at myself in the mirror every day. Asking myself if I am the right person to lift the team is an honest question, but leaving is not the answer. I’m not a football coach. That’s not my job. I can’t just walk away and then go to Chelsea or Liverpool. I don’t have that choice, and in a way, that’s a shame. I’m in a hamster wheel that keeps spinning, and I can’t jump off".
Toto Wolff then analyses the results of the Australian Grand Prix:
"What happened is incredibly difficult to deal with, and I would be lying if I said I feel optimistic or positive. Today is brutal. We started 2024 believing we had a better car than last year. Then you look at the results from Australia in 2023. Leclerc didn’t finish the race, Sainz came fourth, McLaren was in P17 or P18 or P19, and now they’re 40 seconds ahead of us. On one hand, I want to punch myself in the nose. On the other, I realise that when you do things right, things can change quickly, and you can keep believing".
The Australian Grand Prix ended with a small yet significant incident. On the day of Scuderia Ferrari's triumph and the surprising retirement of Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, who executed an aggressive race strategy, finished sixth, benefitting in the last lap from the spectacular incident - thankfully without consequences - featuring George Russell. The crash against the barriers destroyed Russell's W15, which had been closely pursuing the Spanish driver, and forced Race Direction to end the race under Virtual Safety Car conditions. Video footage from Russell’s onboard camera, along with the driver’s own words once back in the pits, further clarifies the incident. The video shows how Alonso's braking seemed to catch Russell completely by surprise, causing him to lose control of the car.
"I’m fine after the incident, fortunately. I really don’t know how to explain what happened. I was half a second behind Fernando 100 meters before the corner, and then suddenly he was right in front of me. It was clear he braked earlier than he had in previous laps. I wasn’t expecting it, and it caught me off guard. I crashed into the wall and experienced some dramatic seconds. It was a disappointing end to a tough race. Our pace wasn’t what we wanted. We had some good lap times, but in the end, we need to work to catch up with those ahead of us. We’ll focus on how to improve ahead of Japan in two weeks".
In stark contrast, Lewis Hamilton had a different take, as he had to abandon all attempts to recover from a negative qualifying outcome due to a technical issue.
"My race was going well until we had a Power Unit failure. It’s quite difficult to overtake here, but we had gained some positions early on with the soft tyres. It’s a shame to retire because there was still a long way to go. I was starting to push, but then the power unit broke. These things happen, and I know we’ll bounce back. We will also improve the car over the course of the season. We’ve done it in previous years, and I’m sure we’ll do it again. It’s tough that we’re not as competitive right now as we’d like to be, but we’ll keep working hard. I’m focused on this with the team. In the short term, I expect it to still be difficult to compete for the top spots, but we’ll see what we can do in the medium term".
A few hours later, Fernando Alonso struggled to accept the 20-second penalty imposed by the stewards for his defensive manoeuvre, which the officials claimed contributed to George Russell’s incident. In a lengthy post on his official Instagram profile, the Spanish driver politely but firmly criticised the unfavourable decision, citing various precedents of battles in which his driving skill had always shone. Many fans pointed out that the sanction imposed on the Aston Martin driver was particularly harsh for an incident that - compared to many others seen in recent years - did not even involve any actual contact between the two cars involved.
"Double points for the team. Having a better race pace than the rest of the weekend allowed us to finish sixth and seventh. We were a bit surprised by the post-race penalty regarding how we should have handled the corners or driven the car. At no point does any of us want to do anything wrong at these speeds. I believe that if there hadn’t been gravel in that corner, in any other corner in the world we wouldn’t have even been investigated".
Fernando Alonso went on to emphasise his point by recalling three epic battles from his career, such as the duels against Michael Schumacher at Imola in 2005-2006 (winning the first, losing the second) and last year’s battle at Interlagos against Sergio Perez. All examples of tough yet fair driving:
"In Formula 1, with over twenty years of experience and having had epic duels like Imola 2005 and 2006, or Brazil 2023, changing racing lines, sacrificing entry speed for good exits from corners is part of the art of motorsport. We never drive at maximum speed on every lap and at every corner: we save fuel, tyres, brakes, so being judged responsible for not making every lap the same as the last is a bit surprising. We have to accept it and think about Japan, to have more pace and fight for the higher positions. Thank you, team".
Undoubtedly, the penalty imposed on Fernando Alonso creates a particular precedent that could become problematic for the federation to manage in the future if similar situations arise.