This was an Australian Grand Prix full of drama and shock retirements – throwing the field wide open for an enthralling contest.

Once reigning three-time world champion Max Verstappen was forced to retire his car, with his right rear tyre on fire, the gloves were off for the rest of the field, with Ferrari in particularly sniffing a rare race win.

The Italian team have looked quick all weekend and they profited with Carlos Sainz claiming victory, while team-mate Charles Leclerc finished second.

It was a disastrous weekend for Mercedes, who saw both drivers fail to finish, and the inquest is ongoing as to how things unravelled for the Silver Arrows.

Mail Sport’s NATHAN SALT gives his winners and losers for the Australian Grand Prix.

Carlos Sainz (left) toasted victory in the Australian Open after a brilliant day for Ferrari

It was a nightmare afternoon in Melbourne for Max Verstappen as he was forced to retire

Sainz ended Verstappen’s nine-race winning streak while it was another frustrating day for Lewis Hamilton

WINNERS

Carlos Sainz – 9

To come back from appendix surgery and win a Formula One grand prix in the space of two weeks is truly remarkable.

Some will take a bit of shine off his win given that Verstappen was a non-factor following his retirement but that would be grossly unfair.

An impressive – and deserved – win and one that should send a signal to team principals throughout the paddock. Sign this man up for 2025.

Lando Norris – 8

He may not have had enough to overtake the Ferrari pair ahead of him but this was a splendid drive from Lando Norris.

When McLaren instructed team orders for Oscar Piastri to let his team-mate past, the partisan home crowd weren’t happy at all to see the popular Aussie playing second fiddle.

But McLaren knew what they were doing and the quicker driver ultimately secured them a podium finish. Bravo.

To come back from appendix surgery and win a Formula One grand prix in the space of two weeks is truly remarkable

Lando Norris (left) impressed to finish third but this was all about the resolve of Sainz (right)

Yuki Tsunoda – 7

This was a statement performance in Australia from Tsunoda and one that should not be overlooked.

The Japanese driver has had a good start to 2024 but here were his first points of the season with an eighth-placed finish.

‘Yeah I’m very happy, first points for our new team, wasn’t easy but at the same time for sure we deserved it,’ he said.

‘Last two races we had a pace, but we had a very frustrating races so I’m very happy that we able to score points here.’

Nico Hulkenburg + Kevin Magnussen – 7

We’re combining the Haas drivers as their ninth and 10th-placed finishes make it the first time since 2022 that the team have secured a double points finish.

That may seem a low bar to those who support a driver up front, but there will be plenty of celebrations in that Haas garage this evening – and rightly so.

It was the first time since 2022 that Haas had both drivers finishing inside the top 10 for points

LOSERS

Max Verstappen – 1

While he could have done very little to stop it, this went about as badly as it could have done for the world championship leader.

He could have had a nightmare last night and this would still have been worse.

His car caught fire inside three laps and there was nothing he could do from there.

‘S*** happens,’ he said. It does indeed, Max.

Lewis Hamilton – 2

Things weren’t much better for Verstappen’s long-time rival Lewis Hamilton once his engine failed and he was sent packing back to the garage.

You just can’t escape the feeling that this is going to be yet another miserable season for Hamilton in what is his final one with Mercedes.

I bet he enjoyed watching his soon-to-be new team Ferrari get the one-two finish though…

George Russell – 4

Hamilton’s team-mate was on course for a seventh-placed finish heading into the final lap and while that would have been nothing to write home about, it got even worse when he crashed in pursuit of Fernando Alonso.

Mercedes are livid and are claiming Alonso brake-tested Russell.

George Russell crashed on the final lap meaning Mercedes suffered two DNF finishes

Mercedes were furious and claimed that Fernando Alonso had brake-tested Russell’s car

The issue is now in the hands of the stewards.

Sergio Perez –  5

Given he is in the best car on the grid and Verstappen was out of the race, so much more was expected of Perez than his fifth-placed finish.

It just shows the car alone can’t get it done.