Carlos Sainz Jr. clinched victory at the Australian Grand Prix on March 24, 2024, disrupting Max Verstappen's series of wins after a car fire forced Verstappen to withdraw.

Sainz's teammate, Charles Leclerc, secured second place, while Lando Norris of McLaren completed the podium in third.

The race ended under a virtual safety car due to George Russell's crash, with Fernando Alonso receiving a penalty for unsafe driving and Lewis Hamilton retiring early from engine failure.

Hamilton labeled this season's start as the worst in his career, and Mercedes' Toto Wolff acknowledged the team's challenging beginning to the season.

Sainz's triumph comes after an emergency appendectomy and amid discussions about his uncertain future with Ferrari, with rumors of a potential switch to Mercedes or Red Bull.

The Australian Grand Prix highlighted Ferrari's resurgence and Red Bull's challenges, setting a dynamic tone for the ongoing championship.

The Formula 1 world now looks ahead to the next race in Japan, scheduled for April 7th.