Ferrari¡¯s Carlos Sainz won the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday in a triumphant return two weeks after appendicitis surgery as Red Bull¡¯s world champion Max Verstappen suffered his first retirement in two years.

Japan¡¯s Yuki Tsunoda, meanwhile, had his best drive of the season and finished eighth to give him some momentum heading into his home race at Suzuka Circuit in two weeks¡¯ time.

Sainz, the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race last season, held off teammate Charles Leclerc before a final-lap crash by Mercedes driver George Russell triggered a virtual safety car and eased the Spaniard¡¯s path to victory.