18/03/2019
NEWS STORY
As Max Verstappen headed towards a podium finish, and Honda personnel, some with tears in their eyes, joined their colleagues from Red Bull as they made their way to watch the ceremony, the events of earlier that afternoon will not have been lost on either party.
While former Red Bull driver, Daniel Ricciardo's race was over by the first corner, Carlos Sainz in the Renault-powered McLaren subsequently became the first official retirement of the season, the Spaniard suffering an engine issue.
Among those impressed not only by the fact this was Honda's first podium since 2008 (Silverstone), but that, based on the evidence thus far, the Japanese manufacturer's engines could pose a bigger threat to his title hopes than Ferrari, was Lewis Hamilton.
"They were able to pass the Ferrari, I think it's awesome," said the world champion. "The Red Bulls are there with us and I think we are going to have a really, really great battle between the three of us.
"I am sure for Ferrari that something has not been right this weekend," he added, "but I am pretty sure that the car is still good. It is going to be a really interesting season."
Of his own race, he was slightly less enthusiastic.
"I have been here a long, long time, it is a long year to go and there is a lot of knowledge that we can take from this race," he said, having effectively lost the race at the start and subsequently being unable to challenge his teammate due to a damaged floor.
"The glass is half full," he added, "we have positive things to take from the race. I will go straight back to Europe and be back in the factory during the week. By the time I get there I will have a much better understanding of the damage on the car and understand about the start and understand how to correct that for the next one."
And of the Ferrari advantage that never was...
"No one was expecting to have a gap like that when we came into the weekend," he admitted. "What I was shown, and led to believe from the analysis, was that Ferrari were ahead and obviously that wasn't the case this weekend.
"I am not quite sure why their performance was how it was. I don't know what their problem was but I am sure they will come back strongly in the next races, so we have to stay on our toes."
Check out our Sunday gallery from Melbourne, here.