On 24 March 2024, Round 3 of the FIA Formula One World Championship took place at Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne. Charles Leclerc crossed the line 2.366 seconds behind race winner Carlos Sainz, completing a Ferrari 1-2 that few had anticipated given the team's struggles in 2023. Leclerc also posted the race's fastest lap — a double achievement that makes his specific chassis historically noteworthy. BBR Models captures that exact configuration in die-cast at 1:18.
The Ferrari SF-24: a revised concept for 2024
The SF-24 was Ferrari's works entry for the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship, powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid V6 power unit. Compared with the SF-23, the car introduced a revised aerodynamic concept. Car No. 16 was assigned to Charles Leclerc for the full 2024 season, operating under the Scuderia Ferrari banner before the HP title-sponsorship rebrand took effect from the Miami GP onward.
Melbourne, March 2024: the race that revived a narrative
Carlos Sainz took victory just two weeks after emergency appendix surgery that had forced him to miss the Saudi Arabian GP — his third career Formula 1 win. Leclerc's 2nd-place finish and fastest lap denied pole-sitter Max Verstappen any points; the Red Bull retired early. Lando Norris (McLaren) completed the podium in 3rd. Critically, the Australian GP was held before HP became title sponsor, so both Ferraris carried the original 2024 red livery with standard Scuderia Ferrari sponsor decals — a livery trim that would exist for only three rounds.
The 1:18 scale model by BBR Models
BBR Models is an Italian manufacturer with a long-standing reputation for accuracy at both 1:18 and 1:43. This item is produced in die-cast, a format that combines structural rigidity with the surface fidelity BBR is known for. The model replicates No. 16 in the pre-HP livery specific to the Australian GP configuration, and is supplied complete with a display showcase — meaning it arrives shelf-ready without additional purchase.
In the display cabinet
The showcase is included in the box, making placement straightforward on any collector shelf. The subject pairs naturally with the sister car — Sainz's winning SF-24 No. 55 from the same race — for anyone building a complete 2024 Australian GP podium display. It also sits coherently alongside other Ferrari Formula 1 entries from the 2024 season or earlier Albert Park results. The pre-HP livery distinguishes this model visually from any post-Miami 2024 SF-24 variant, giving the collection a precise chronological reference point.
