The 2025 Formula 1 season got off to a flying start, courtesy of the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit. This high-speed race was prone to rather unpredictable conditions, so it was a much anticipated weekend of action and unexpected turns. McLaren’s Lando Norris achieved a memorable win, holding off reigning champion Max Verstappen to register his fifth Formula 1 victory. With six new rookies and teams adapting to rule changes, along with unpredictable weather, the Australian GP was the perfect build-up to what looks like an action-packed season.
Free Practice Sessions
Friday’s practice sessions were crucial as teams sought to dial in their setups for the season’s first competitive action. The first session saw Norris set the pace for McLaren, followed closely by Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. But it could well mean that the gap has closed up over winter because both McLaren and Ferrari were surprisingly quick.
FP2 saw greater long-run pace improvements, with Leclerc securing the best time. Norris and Piastri completed 2nd and 3rd, which probably tells well for McLaren on both single-lap and race pace. Oliver Bearman wasn’t available for FP2, as his car was under repairs following his crash in FP1. Rookie Isack Hadjar impressed in his first official F1 weekend, finishing inside the top 10 in both sessions.
The final practice session on Saturday morning saw mixed conditions, with rain affecting track grip. Oscar Piastri and George Russell topped the timesheets this time, while Max in the Red Bull showed strong wet-weather pace. The changing conditions hinted at what was to come on race day.
Qualifying Session
As the sun set over Melbourne, qualifying delivered one of the most exciting sessions in recent memory. With rain threatening towards the end of Q3, drivers rushed to set competitive laps early. Lando Norris capitalized on McLaren’s improvements and put in a stunning lap to take the pole position, edging out teammate Piastri by just 0.084 seconds.
Max Verstappen put in a strong lap for Red Bull securing third place. Ferrari’s struggles continued as Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton only managed 7th and 8th places respectively. Yuki Tsunoda impressed in qualifying, reaching Q3 and qualifying fifth, showcasing his potential. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Liam Lawson failed to make it past Q1 after a setup gamble backfired, setting the stage for a difficult race.
Race Day
The highly anticipated race began under wet conditions, forcing teams to start on intermediate tires. Norris was good off the line and held onto his lead. Verstappen and Piastri battled for 2nd place going through the first few corners. The tricky conditions soon caused early incidents, especially with rookie Isack Hadjar crashing out on the formation lap. This highlighted the difficulty of getting a handle on Formula 1 machinery in unpredictable weather.
With the track drying, teams were faced with the big decision on when to switch to slicks. McLaren got their decision spot on, bringing Norris in at the right time to hold track position against Verstappen. George Russell, meanwhile, had been in the battle for the lead and lost some time on the slow pit stop, but reemerged in third place.
Further down the order, Lewis Hamilton momentarily led the race after staying out longer. A miscommunication with his race engineer led to a poorly timed pit stop, dropping him to tenth.
Rookie Performances
Andrea Kimi Antonelli was one of the standout performers, finishing in a remarkable fourth place on his Formula 1 debut. The 18-year-old Italian showed maturity beyond his years, managing tire wear and executing clean overtakes. His battle with Charles Leclerc in the closing stages was one of the race highlights, as he defended his position masterfully. Bearman from Haas managed to finish the race in 14th place.
Conversely, the other 4 rookies couldn’t finish the race. Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar had a weekend to forget. His race ended before it even began when he spun out on the formation lap, an unfortunate mistake that left him emotional in the garage. This incident underscored the immense pressure rookies face when transitioning to Formula 1. Alpine’s Jack Doohan dropped his car in the first lap, hit the barriers and brought out the safety car. Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto also crashed in the 47th and 46th laps respectively, along with Fernando Alonso in the 33rd lap.
Hamilton’s Ferrari Debut
Expectations were high for Lewis Hamilton’s first race with Ferrari. But, the seven-time world champion faced multiple setbacks. His car lacked the pace to challenge for a podium finish. Communication issues with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, added to the difficulties.
Ferrari’s strategy misjudgment cost Hamilton valuable positions, leaving him to settle for tenth place and just a single point. Although the result was disappointing, Hamilton was still confident in the team’s potential. He called for improved coordination and setup adjustments in the coming races.
Race Incidents and Safety Cars
The evolving track conditions resulted in several race incidents. Doohan’s crash necessitated the initial safety car of the race. William’s Carlos Sainz crashed under the safety car, just prior to Lap 2. During the race, the crashes of Alonso, Lawson and Bortoleto in the 33rd, 47th and 46th laps respectively, also necessitated safety cars. This neutralized the race and gave teams a chance for a second pit stop. But Norris and McLaren played their strategy to perfection, maintaining him in front of Verstappen even after the safety car appeared several times.
Norris Takes the Crown
Lando Norris crossed the finish line first, securing his fifth Formula 1 victory with a race time of 1:42:06.304. Verstappen finished just 0.895 seconds behind, unable to find a way past the McLaren despite his late-race push. George Russell completed the podium, 8.481 seconds behind the leader.
Kimi Antonelli finished fourth in an impressive debut race. He is followed by Alex Albon in fifth, delivering an outstanding performance for Williams. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll finished sixth, along with Nico Hülkenberg in 7th place. Ferrari’s Leclerc and Hamilton finished 8th and 10th respectively, with Piastri separating the two with a late comeback.
With his victory, Norris leads the drivers’ standings, seven points ahead of Verstappen. McLaren’s strong result also puts them in a promising position in the constructors’ championship. Mercedes, despite not having race-winning pace, showed signs of consistency. Ferrari’s mixed weekend left them with work to do before the next race.
What’s Next?
The Australian Grand Prix provided one of the best season-opening races in recent times. Now, everyone’s attention shifts to what lies ahead on the schedule. The next event is the Chinese Grand Prix. With unique start and tight Turns 1 and 2, the track also features one of the longest straights of the calendar, the 1,2 km between Turns 13 and 14. There will also be a Sprint race in Shanghai so double the excitement.
Teams will review their last performance and adjust accordingly. McLaren hopes to keep the early momentum going, while Red Bull hopes to counter-attack. Mercedes look to continue their form, with Ferrari aim to correct their strategic blunders. As the season progresses, the fight for the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship is turning out to be an enthralling contest.