Table of Contents
Introduction
On the 3rd of April 2023, Max Verstappen won his first Australian Grand Prix in a dramatic and chaotic race that saw three red flags and numerous collisions. Verstappen, who is the reigning champion, started as the heavy favorite but was overtaken by the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on the opening lap.
Charles Leclerc’s gravel beaching caused an early safety car, before Alex Albon’s crash seven laps later resulted in the race being red-flagged. Once the racing resumed, Verstappen asserted his dominance and built a commanding lead.
However, a late-second red flag was shown after Kevin Magnussen lost his rear tire, leaving two dramatic laps to be completed. Chaos and collisions ensued when the race restarted, headlined by a heavy crash between Alpine teammates Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon. This led to a third red flag being shown, with the race ultimately concluding behind a safety car.
Verstappen Finally Claims His Maiden Australian Grand Prix Victory
It was only a matter of time before Verstappen picked up his first win at the Australian Grand Prix. He finished third in 2019, witnessed the race be canceled twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and suffered a car breakdown last year. This time though, he got his win – and it was richly deserved.
Verstappen dropped back two places on the first lap but kept a cool head, eventually overtaking Hamilton for the lead after the first red flag. From that point on, he put his head down in typical fashion, establishing a commanding lead that couldn’t be eclipsed, even after two late dramatic red flags.
F1 Australian Grand Prix 2023 Results
The race results are as follows:
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 25 |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 19 |
| 3 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 15 |
| 4 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 12 |
| 5 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 10 |
| 6 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 8 |
| 7 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | 6 |
| 8 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 4 |
| 9 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo | 2 |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTuari | 1 |
| 11 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | |
| 12 | Carlos Sainz* | Ferrari | |
| DNF | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | |
| DNF | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | |
| DNF | Nyck de Vries | AlphaTauri | |
| DNF | Logan Sargeant | Williams | |
| DNF | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | |
| DNF | George Russell | Mercedes | |
| DNF | Alex Albon | Williams | |
| DNF | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | |
| *Denotes five-second penalty |
Carlos Sainz Hit With Late Penalty, Misses Out.
Carlos Sainz had a frustrating end to his F1 Australian Grand Prix race, as he was hit with a five-second penalty after battling for a podium position for the majority of the race. The incident occurred when Sainz clipped Fernando Alonso during the second red flag restart, resulting in the race stewards handing him the penalty.
The decision to penalize Sainz was controversial, as the FIA re-established the race order according to how it was set prior to the restart. This meant that Alonso had not lost his place, and the lap was effectively discounted. Sainz was unhappy with the penalty, saying on the team radio, “No! It’s unacceptable. They need to wait until the race is finished and then discuss it with me.”
As a result of the penalty, Sainz dropped to 12th place, with the drivers crossing the finish line in a tight pack. The Spaniard declined to comment on the issue when interviewed post-race by Sky Sports F1.
While Sainz missed out on points due to the penalty, his teammate Charles Leclerc was unable to finish the race after getting beached in the gravel early on. Ferrari will be hoping for better luck in the next race.
One driver who did manage to pick up points on his home debut was Oscar Piastri. The Melbourne-born driver started in 16th place but drove maturely to finish in eighth place and score his maiden championship points. His McLaren teammate Lando Norris also performed well, finishing in sixth place.
Overall, it was a chaotic and dramatic race at Melbourne’s Albert Park, with Max Verstappen ultimately coming out on top to claim his maiden F1 Australian Grand Prix victory.
frequently asked questions (FAQs)
FAQs related to the article about Carlos Sainz and his late penalty:
Q: What was Carlos Sainz penalized for?
A: Carlos Sainz received a time penalty for exceeding the speed limit in a section of the rally course during Stage 8 of the 2022 Dakar Rally.
Q: How much time penalty did he receive?
A: Sainz was penalized for one minute and 20 seconds, which dropped him from first place to third place in the overall standings.
Q: Was the penalty imposed immediately?
A: No, the penalty was imposed later after the completion of the stage. Sainz was initially declared the winner of the stage and was leading the overall standings before the penalty was imposed.
Q: Did Sainz appeal the penalty?
A: No, Sainz did not appeal the penalty and accepted the decision.
Q: Who eventually won the rally?
A: The article does not provide information about the final winner of the rally.
Q: How important is the Dakar Rally?
A: The Dakar Rally is considered one of the most challenging and prestigious off-road rallies in the world. It attracts top drivers and riders from around the world and is watched by millions of fans worldwide.
Q: What is the history of the Dakar Rally?
A: The Dakar Rally was first held in 1978 as a rally from Paris to Dakar in Senegal. Since then, it has been held annually, except for a few occasions when it was canceled due to security concerns or other issues. In recent years, the rally has been held in South America, Saudi Arabia, and other locations.