The 2024 Australian Grand Prix produced one of the more charged results of the modern Formula 1 era. Carlos Sainz started from the front row, inherited the lead after pole-sitter Max Verstappen retired early, and converted it into a controlled win for Scuderia Ferrari — his third career victory, delivered just 14 days after emergency appendix surgery. Charles Leclerc crossed the line second and set fastest lap, completing a Ferrari 1-2 that the team had not achieved since the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix. BBR Models captures that moment in 1:18 die-cast.
Ferrari SF-24: The 2024 Formula 1 Contender
The SF-24 entered the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship as an evolution of the 2023 SF-23. At Albert Park in Round 3, the car demonstrated genuine pace across both seats, with Leclerc's fastest lap underlining the SF-24's competitiveness on that weekend.
Fourteen Days, One Win: Sainz at Albert Park
Sainz had missed Round 2 in Saudi Arabia to undergo emergency appendix surgery, returning for Melbourne with no race mileage on the updated car. Starting P2, he managed the race with composure after Verstappen's early retirement and won by 2.366 seconds over team-mate Leclerc. The Australia car ran the traditional Scuderia Ferrari red with yellow accents and No. 55 — a livery variant that is now a distinct chapter in the 2024 season narrative.
BBR Models: Italian Craftsmanship in 1:18 Die-Cast
BBR Models — Best of the Best Racing — is an Italian manufacturer with a long-standing focus on high-detail die-cast and resin renditions of Ferrari and other prestige cars. This 1:18 die-cast model reproduces the No. 55 SF-24 in the pre-HP livery as it appeared on 24 March 2024. The choice of the Australian GP specification, rather than the later HP-branded variant, reflects a deliberate attention to period accuracy that distinguishes it within the 2024 SF-24 model family.
In the Display Cabinet
The 1:18 format requires a deep shelf for a Formula 1 car including the front wing — plan accordingly if your cabinet is tight. The most immediate companion piece is the BBR No. 16 Charles Leclerc SF-24 from the same Australian GP, allowing the complete Ferrari 1-2 to be displayed side by side. For a broader Sainz narrative, the Ferrari F1-75 No. 55 from the 2022 Singapore GP — his debut win — provides the career arc. For Ferrari purists, the Bahrain 2022 1-2 models close the loop on the team's consecutive 1-2 results.
