Sainz topped FP1 at Albert Park and, in the subsequent practice sessions and early qualifying segments (he was the lead Ferrari driver in Q2), looked to able to match the times set by team-mate Charles Leclerc – who went on to score pole and lead every lap on the way to victory – before things went awry for the Spaniard in Q3.
Leclerc had just moved to the top of the times in the top 10 shootout when the session was halted after Fernando Alonso’s crash, seconds before the following Sainz was able to cross the line and set his own banker time.
