The Australian Grand Prix began with polesitter Verstappen leading, but Carlos Sainz passed him on lap two. Verstappen soon reported brake problems, and a right-rear brake failure forced him to retire on lap four with flames visible from the car. Sainz then controlled the race, while Ferrari managed pace and tyres effectively through the middle phase. Leclerc undercut Norris with an early stop, giving Ferrari a one-two formation. In the closing stages George Russell chased Alonso but crashed heavily at turn 6 on the final lap, ending the race under virtual safety car conditions. Sainz won on his return from surgery, Leclerc finished second and Norris third. Yuki Tsunoda scored his first points of the season in seventh.