MELBOURNE – In a dramatic Australian Grand Prix, Lando Norris, defying preseason expectations, secured victory over Max Verstappen. The race was marked by unpredictable weather, an off-track excursion for Norris, and multiple safety car periods, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Norris skillfully defended against Verstappen’s Red Bull, ultimately finishing a mere 0.8 seconds ahead of the reigning world champion.
This exhilarating race was a chaotic season opener, repeatedly disrupted by intermittent rain and numerous driver crashes.
“It was incredible,” Norris exclaimed. “A challenging race, especially with Max [Verstappen] close behind. I pushed hard in the final laps, which was quite tense, but it’s an amazing way to kick off the year.”
“The conditions were really tough and we made a few errors. It was tricky, but these are the races that are exciting, enjoyable, and unpredictable. This time, we nailed it, and I’m absolutely thrilled.”
Norris started from pole position and, during the calmer moments, he and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri distanced themselves from the rest. However, as rain intensified on Lap 44, both McLarens went off track, jeopardizing McLaren’s chances of a 1-2 finish. Piastri’s off at the final corner caused him to drop down the rankings.
Norris managed to avoid a similar fate, securing his fifth career victory and taking an early lead in the championship standings.
While McLaren demonstrated strong pace between the incidents, the rain disrupted everything. Ultimately, Norris triumphed over Verstappen, with Mercedes’ George Russell completing the podium in third.
Amidst the turmoil, McLaren’s potential challenge of managing two competitive drivers became apparent. At one point, as Piastri closed in on Norris, the Australian received instructions not to race his teammate, an order that was later rescinded three laps later.
Prior to the race, both Norris and Piastri had affirmed their freedom to race each other.
Williams’ Alex Albon finished fifth, while Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli, replacing Lewis Hamilton, initially claimed fourth. Antonelli received a five-second penalty for an unsafe release, dropping him to fifth, but the penalty was later overturned following a Mercedes appeal.
Hamilton’s Ferrari debut was a major pre-season storyline, but the seven-time world champion finished in 10th place, losing a position to a brilliant move by Piastri, who finished ninth.
Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, finished eighth, regretting a crucial spin that cost him a potential podium finish. Ferrari’s late gamble in the changing conditions nearly paid off.
Melbourne’s unpredictable weather set the stage for the race. Heavy pre-race rain created a spectacle, and drama unfolded even before the start. Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar crashed during the formation lap.
A distraught Hadjar was comforted by Anthony Hamilton, Lewis’s father and Hadjar’s childhood idol. Hadjar’s incident marked the beginning of a tough day for the 2025 rookie class.
When the race began, Alpine’s Jack Doohan spun into the wall at Turn 6, triggering the first safety car. Williams’ Carlos Sainz lost a strong position by crashing behind the safety car a lap later. Midway through, Fernando Alonso’s crash on Lap 34 brought out the safety car again, bunching up the field.
The third and final safety car set up a thrilling finale. The delays pushed the race closer to an impending rain shower. When the rain arrived, drivers were on dry tires, leading to near misses for both McLaren drivers. Ultimately, two more rookies crashed out.
Formula 2 champion Gabriele Bortoleto crashed at the final corner, and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson spun into the wall in the final sector, both retiring. Only 14 cars remained in the race.
The final restart promised a dramatic showdown between Norris and Verstappen, and despite a late error that allowed Verstappen to close in, Norris managed to hold on for the victory.
Dominic Ashworth