Three also-rans from F1's Australian Grand Prix look for redemption in Japan

Formula 1's annual visit to Australia delighted the race winner, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who took his third career win.

Three races into the season, the pecking order starts taking shape as F1 enjoys a run of flyaway races outside of Europe.

Let's look at who floundered in Melbourne and will be looking for a return to form next time out in Japan.

Max Verstappen

The reigning world champion retired from the lead just three laps into the Grand Prix with a rear brake issue, ending his nine-consecutive-win streak.

The Dutchman still leads the world championship despite conceding 19 points to his nearest rival, Charles Leclerc.

The world champion suffered his first retirement in two years after retiring in Australia in 2022, a testament to Red Bull's bulletproof reliability and Verstappen's near mistake-free driving.

Heading into Japan, the championship leader is anticipated to return at the field's sharp end.

He has won dominantly at Suzuka in his last two visits to the Land of the Rising Sun, clinching his second world title there in 2022.

The Red Bull RB20 is peerless in high-speed turns, an aspect that is plentiful at Suzuka, particularly in The Esses of the first sector. 

Mercedes

Mercedes has endured a stuttering start to 2024, ahead of Round 4 in Japan, after George Russell crashed on the last lap and Lewis Hamilton retired with mechanical trouble.

They will be eager for an upturn in form after flattering to deceive in Melbourne, which delivered a pointless weekend and the team's first double non-finish since the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton's raw speed was a flash in the pan; the 39-year-old failed to make Q3 and started in 11th place.

After retiring from the Grand Prix, Hamilton said: “This is the worst start to the season I’ve ever had, for sure, and it’s worse than 2009."

The British-based team has yet to make inroads into Red Bull's advantage and was comfortably beaten on pure pace by Ferrari and its engine customer, McLaren.

Fernando Alonso

The Aston Martin driver will be looking for redemption in Japan after he was awarded a 20-second post-race time penalty and finished eighth.

This was for potentially dangerous driving in his battle with Russell, which ended in the Mercedes driver crashing on the last lap.

Alonso has driven superbly at Suzuka over his career, winning in 2006, which may help him at the next Grand Prix.

The Aston Martin has struggled with top speed and efficiency this season as the double-world champion deliberates over his future.

Team Principal Mike Krack said: "The situation is unchanged from two weeks ago," he told Sky F1. "Fernando made it clear to everybody that he needs to decide what he wants to do with his future."