Damon Hill on Ferrari: “That will be a shock” / Formula 1

Ferrari showed a good performance in the traditional Australian Doctor: double victory with Carlos Sainz ahead of Charles Leclerc. We will never know if this would have happened without the failure of world champion Max Verstappen (brake fault).

Of course, Formula 1 fans are excited to see what happens next at the Japanese Suzuka race. Englishman Damon Hill, 22-time GP winner and 1996 Formula 1 champion, says on the F1 Nation podcast: “Suzuka will be an acid test for Red Bull Racing’s rivals. In Japan you need a car that has great aerodynamics, handling of tires is also a big issue.”

The 60-year-old Hill continued: “Ferrari have shown great speed on the fast tracks, and there are a lot of them in Japan. But hand in hand – it would be a shock if Ferrari could suddenly win every race. I think we will be back to normal next weekend , with Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing in a good position, with a lead of maybe two or three tenths of a second.

“Of course I also wonder – would Ferrari have won Australia without Max losing? What happened in Melbourne cannot be repeated. But I think what will happen in Japan is part of the answer to this burning question. I hope Ferrari can now challenge RBR time and time again.”

Hill admits: “That’s a bit wishful thinking, because I find it more exciting when one competitor doesn’t win too many times. I want to see an exciting Grand Prix every time and I want to see how different drivers fight for the title.”

Australien-GP, Albert Park Circuit

01. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, 1:20:26.843 h
02. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +2,366 sec
03. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +5.904
04. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +35,770
05. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +56,309
06. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1:33,222
07. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, +1:35,601
08. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +1:40.992*
09. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1:44.553
10. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Lap
11. Alex Albon (T), Williams, +1
12. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, +1
13. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, +1
15. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, +1
16. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1
outside
George Russell (GB), Mercedes, accident
Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, engine failure
Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, Bremsdefekt

*20 second time penalty for braking in the fight with George Russell
Entry waived: Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams
(Alex Albon crash in free practice, no replacement chassis in Australia)

World Championship Standings (after 3 out of 24 Grands Prix)

the driver
01. Verstappen 51 points
02. Leclerc 47
03. Perez 46
04. Sainz 40
05. Plate 28
06. Norris 27
07. Russell 18
08. Alonso 16
09. Walk 9
10. Hamilton 8
11. Tsunoda 6
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 3
14. Magnussen 1
15. Alboni 0
16. Zhou 0
17. Ricciardo 0
18. Okon 0
19. 0 gas
20. Bota 0
21. Sergeant 0

Builders Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 97 Punkte
02. Ferrari 93
03. McLaren 55
04. Mercedes 26
05. Aston Martin 25
06. Running Bull 6
07. Especially 4
08. Williams 0
09. Sauber 0
10. Alpine 0