Carlos Sainz’s Australian Grand Prix victory was made all the more impressive after he bounced back from appendix surgery to triumph in Melbourne. Verstappen’s bid to win a 10th straight race for the second time in less than 12 months ended after his brakes exploded and his car caught on fire. After cantering to wins in the opening two races of the season, Verstappen was a red hot favourite to go back-to-back after winning at Albert Park for the first time last year. Verstappen, who was also forced to retire at Albert Park in 2022, had won nine straight races, dating back to the Japanese Grand Prix last September. Sainz was the last driver, in Singapore last September, other than Verstappen to win a F1 race.

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