SUMMARY
- Carlos Sainz stages remarkable comeback, clinching victory at Australian Grand Prix.
- Sainz's triumphant return after appendicitis surgery prompts comparison to Gerhard Berger's iconic win in '97.
The unexpected occurred at the Australian Grand Prix of 2024 as Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz nabbed a win out of the hands of Max Verstappen. The driver had to miss the Saudi Arabian GP due to an emergency appendicitis surgery and was replaced by F2 driver Oliver Bearman. Nonetheless, Sainz made a swift recovery and returned to the grid in two weeks to race at the Albert Park circuit.
The race took an unexpected turn when Verstappen, the reigning world champion from Red Bull, retired for the first time in two years. The Spaniard was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race in the 2023 season at the Singapore Grand Prix. Although his future at Formula 1 remains uncertain as he will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton in 2025, Sainz went on to impress all with his performance lately.
Carlos Sainz makes history: Emulating Gerhard Berger’s victory in 1997
Speaking about his impressive performance, Sainz stated, “It was a really good race. I felt really good out there. But very happy, very proud of the team, and happy to be in a one-two with Charles here.” Ferrari had a grand race weekend as both their drivers managed to secure P1 and P2 spots. However, this was not the only time when a driver returned to the grid after surgery and went on to win a race.
CARLOS SAINZ WINS IN AUSTRALIA! 🤩
The Smooth Operator seals a sensational win Down Under just two weeks after emergency surgery 👏👏👏#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/97Rt3AtbCL
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 24, 2024
After the race at Australia, Sky Sports journalist, David Croft announced, “This is gonna be Carlos Sainz’s day in Albert Park, and I think the first driver since Gerhard Berger in Germany ’97 to win when he returned from an injury or medical absence. It’s an astonishing feat for Carlos Sainz to be fit, and well, and healthy enough after removing his appendix after having surgery to come back at a race weekend.”
Back in the ’90s, Austrian driver Gerhard Berger commanded attention as a formidable force on the racing circuit. The 1997 German Grand Prix went down in F1 history for a thrilling and emotional comeback victory. Berger had been forced to miss several races due to a taxing medical procedure and the heartbreaking loss of his father in a plane crash.
While his physical condition was less than ideal and his team expressed concern, Berger remained determined. His unwavering devotion and exceptional car control allowed him to dominate the competition, ultimately clinching a dramatic victory.
Sainz seizes Melbourne victory after Verstappen’s DNF
The 29-year-old driver surged past Verstappen on the track and went on to win the due after the Red Bull driver’s race-ending mishap. On lap 2, with DRS enabled and a slight slide from Verstappen at Turn 7, Sainz seized the opportunity and overtook him at Turn 9. And in no time, the Dutchman announced on the radio, “I have smoke. Fire, fire, brake fire!”
Carlos Sainz led Charles Leclerc as Ferrari sealed a one-two at the Australian Grand Prix following the early retirement of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen 🏎️🏆 pic.twitter.com/8hvDapW1TC
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 24, 2024
This gave Carlos Sainz the much-needed opportunity to build a lead. His teammate, Leclerc found himself fighting off the two McLarens as both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri drove to make it to the podium spots. George Russell held fifth place ahead of Sergio Perez, while the former went on to make a brutal crash in the last few laps of the race.
While the race proceeded, Verstappen informed the media that the unexpected halt came as a result of a break issue. The reigning champion sat out the rest of the race while Sainz claimed victory for the first time in the 2024 season.