Carlos Sainz achieved his third career victory with Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix, an impressive feat just two weeks after his appendix surgery. Seizing the moment, the Spaniard overtook Max Verstappen on the 2nd lap, who retired from the race due to mechanical issues on lap 4. Sainz’s resilience was evident as he navigated the challenging Melbourne circuit precisely and with determination.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris secured third place in the race, showcasing his resilience. Recently, in a social media post, Norris playfully joked about removing his appendix, referencing Carlos Sainz’s suggestion for drivers to shed some weight by removing the appendix before the race in an interview.
Carlos Sainz’s stunning win after surgery draws a reaction from Lando Norris
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Max Verstappen retired due to smoke from his car, allowing the Spaniard to dominate and secure a substantial lead. Charles Leclerc claimed second place, while Lando Norris grabbed third. The Brit added a humorous touch on Instagram, commenting, “Gonna go get my appendix removed. Apparently you do it and you win a race soooooo…. congrats Carlitos.” His playful remark highlighted the camaraderie between drivers and added a light-hearted tone to the competitive atmosphere.
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The McLaren driver’s remarks stem in response to Carlos Sainz’s recent interview with Guenther Steiner, where Sainz said, “It was a really good race, physically it wasn’t the easiest but I was mostly on my own so I could manage the pace, manage the tires. Life is crazy, what happened at the beginning of the year, the podium in Bahrain, the appendix in Saudi, and the win here. I will recommend all the drivers to take it [their appendix] out this winter!“. Referring to his suggestions, the McLaren driver craked a joke by remarking that he would remove his appendix and win the next race, as per Sainz’s suggestions.
Thus, Despite discomfort from his recent appendix surgery, the Ferrari driver displayed resilience throughout the Melbourne weekend, securing a deserved win. His post-race interviews featured cheeky remarks, jokingly suggesting fellow drivers lose weight by removing their appendices. His humor and determination highlighted his competitive spirit amidst the racing fervor. The Dutchman’s retirement ended his 43-race finishing streak, setting the stage for a gripping contest between Ferrari and McLaren.
Max Verstappen shifts the buck to the “mechanical” aspects after the Australian GP fiasco
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Red Bull Driver’s premature retirement from the race stemmed from his ongoing complaints about the right-rear brake issue since the Australian Grand Prix’s outset. Despite initially securing a smooth start from pole position, trouble arose on lap two when Carlos Sainz made a decisive overtake. In Melbourne, 452,055 eager spectators awaited the thrilling Australian Grand Prix and witnessed defending world champion Max Verstappen retire on lap 4 due to a peculiar brake issue. Signs of trouble arose on Lap when Dutchman said on the radio, “I just lost the car, really weird.”
Shortly, on lap 3, smoke billowed from the rear of the Red Bull driver’s RB20. In a frantic radio message, he exclaimed, “I have smoke… Fire, fire…. Brake… My brake,” then he cautiously navigated back to the pits. As a result, he was forced to retire from the race. The last time the three-time world champion recorded a DNF was at the Australian Grand Prix 2022. When questioned about the frustration of experiencing his first retirement since then, he responded to F1, “Yeah, it’s not ideal. Of course you always want to finish the races but it’s a mechanical sport. These things unfortunately happen, but I think it’s the most important that we understand why it happened.”
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How do you perceive Max Verstappen’s retirement from the race? Do you believe Red Bull should have addressed the issue before the race, or was it an unforeseeable circumstance? Share your thoughts in the comments