P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull had no F1 tyre advantage at high-graining Melbourne – Stella
An overheating right-rear brake forced Max Verstappen’s early retirement, while Carlos Sainz led Charles Leclerc for a Ferrari 1-2. McLaren employed different strategies for its drivers, resulting in Lando Norris passing Oscar Piastri and finishing third. Sergio Perez finished fifth, gaining only one position due to Verstappen’s issues. Red Bull’s engineering director, Stella, believes that the RB20s wouldn’t have had a tyre advantage in Melbourne like they did in Bahrain. Despite difficult tyre graining in Australia, Stella highlighted the non-linear nature of tyre handling and the challenges it presents for teams and drivers. Max Verstappen’s struggles during practice hinted at potential tyre issues, with Stella suggesting that small changes in conditions could dramatically alter tyre behavior.
