Lando Norris has confirmed his status as a favourite at the start of the new season in Australia. The Brit wins the chaotic and highly spectacular rain race full of crashes and overtaking manoeuvres in Melbourne. Max Verstappen opens 2025 with a second place, with George Russell completing the podium.
THE AUSTRALIAN GP AT A GLANCE
WARM-UP LAP: Ouch, that’s a painful start for Isack Hadjar, the newcomer from Racing Bulls. His F1 debut lasts half a minute: in turn 2, he loses control of his car during the formation lap on the wet track, spins, and ends up in the wall. The Frenchman is inconsolable, but receives mental support from Anthony Hamilton on his way to the motorhome in the paddock. Indeed, Lewis’s father.
LAP 1/58: The curtain has been lifted, 2025 has begun: Lando Norris just manages to keep Max Verstappen behind him at the start. Oscar Piastri, who started second, does not succeed in doing so. The tension doesn’t last too long: first, rookie Jack Doohan wraps his Alpine up, Carlos Sainz (last year’s winner in Melbourne) shoots off the wet track behind the safety car. The Spaniard must have expected more from his entrance at Williams…
LAP 8/58: Bernd Mayländer sends the safety car back in. Norris retains the lead after the restart, ahead of Verstappen and Piastri. George Russell and Charles Leclerc, who has passed Yuki Tsunoda, follow.
LAP 9/58: Tsunoda (sixth) and Fernando Alonso (tenth) are ‘under investigation’, as they say. The duo is said to have left more than ten cars’ space during the safety car phase, which is not allowed.
LAP 17/58: Piastri has been within a second of Verstappen for several laps, but the world champion has been able to keep the door relatively easily closed. A fairly rare mistake, especially in the rain, costs him the second place in turn 11. “My tyres are dead,” Verstappen complains over the radio as he sees the McLarens quickly disappear from sight.
LAP 24/57: Andrea Kimi Antonelli is one of the fastest drivers on the track. Mercedes’ debutant started the race in Melbourne in sixteenth place, but has now climbed to P11 and is chasing Fernando Alonso, who, like Tsunoda, has been acquitted of a penalty for leaving too much space under the safety car.
Lap 34/57: Safety Car Deployed
Alonso has had a severe crash: his AMR24 is shattered, leaving a lot of debris on the track. As expected, the entire field comes in for a free tyre change. The majority of the field opts for the hard (dry weather) tyre, including the McLarens ahead of George Russell and Leclerc behind him. Intriguing!
Lap 42/58: Alonso’s Car Cleared
The track is cleared of Alonso’s car: the race restarts and there are no surprises. The top-10 remains unchanged. But for how long? There seems to be a heavy rain shower on the way…
Lap 44/58: Rainfall and Major Consequences
The rain has arrived and it’s having a big impact! Norris and Piastri slide off the track on slicks, Verstappen takes advantage and takes the lead. It’s time to gamble: come in for intermediates or stay out? Norris and Verstappen opt for the former. It turns out to be the right choice. The Ferraris have missed the boat.
Lap 47/58: More Chaos Due to Rain
More chaos ensues due to the rain: Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto also slide off the track on slicks. No physical damage, but Mayländer sends the safety car back onto the track. Norris has meanwhile regained the lead ahead of Verstappen and Russell, he was the first to come in for intermediates after his slip.
Lap 52/58: A Six-Lap Sprint to the Finish
A six-lap sprint to the finish begins: Norris retains the lead, ahead of Verstappen and Russell.
Lap 58/58: Race Conclusion
Despite Verstappen’s strong pressure, Norris keeps his cool in the final laps and continues in 2025 where he left off in 2024 in Abu Dhabi: he wins the opening race in Melbourne. Verstappen finishes second, Russell third.
