Verstappen Retains Championship Lead Despite Australian GP Retirement

Ferrari closes gap to Red Bull after Sainz's victory, while Mercedes faces challenges heading into Japan.

Max Verstappen leads the F1 World Championship despite retiring from the Australian Grand Prix, marking his first retirement in two years.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz won the Australian Grand Prix, closing the gap to Red Bull in both the drivers' and constructors' title races.
Mercedes struggled at the Australian Grand Prix, with both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell failing to finish, marking the team's first double DNF since 2018.
Fernando Alonso seeks redemption in Japan after receiving a post-race penalty in Australia, affecting his and Mercedes' results.
The upcoming Japanese Grand Prix is anticipated to be highly competitive, with teams looking to improve their standings.