Australia
ROUND 01 RECAP
NORRIS BEATS VERSTAPPEN TO VICTORY DOWN UNDER IN DRAMATIC SEASON OPENER AMID LATE-RACE CHAOS
Lando Norris converted pole position into a hard-fought win during the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, which featured mixed weather conditions, multiple crashes, Safety Cars and a late-race downpour that caused huge drama.
Norris controlled the early stages of Sunday’s encounter from McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on a sodden track, before improving conditions enabled a switch to slick tyres over the second half.
However, shortly after the field had ditched their intermediates, another patch of heavier rain soaked the circuit once more, dramatically sending both McLarens onto the grass and bringing most drivers immediately back into the pits for suitable rubber.
While Norris managed to gather his car and head into the pit lane, Piastri spun off at the penultimate corner and lost a heap of time trying to recover the situation – a chain of events that released reigning World Champion Verstappen into the lead.
However, with Verstappen still on slicks and conditions continuing to deteriorate, it was inevitable that his own pit stop would be required and, when that duly happened, Norris reclaimed a lead he had managed so well earlier in the race.
After a final Safety Car period, caused by crashes for Kick Sauber debutant Gabriel Bortoleto and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson, Norris came under attack from Verstappen in the tricky, slippery conditions – the latter managing to get within DRS range.
Norris had just enough in hand to take the chequered flag over his 2024 rival, with George Russell exploiting the drama to complete the podium for Mercedes, ahead of rookie team mate Kimi Antonelli and high-flying Williams driver Alex Albon.
Antonelli had been penalised for an unsafe release from the pits and dropped to fifth behind Albon, but was reinstated to P4 post-race, while Aston Martin’s wet-weather specialist Lance Stroll took sixth over the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and the recovering Piastri.
Lewis Hamilton briefly led the race when he also stayed out a little longer on slicks during the late rainfall, but had to settle for 10th and the final points-paying position after he pitted, denying the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Racing Bulls machine of Yuki Tsunoda.
Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman both tried to stick it out on intermediates ahead of the decisive final shower, only to go back to slicks and then have to complete further stops, leaving them 13th and 14th respectively at the finish.
Lawson and Bortoleto joined a sizeable list of retirements with their respective Turn 2 and Turn 13 shunts, adding to a heavy mid-race crash for the other Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso and early accidents for Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Alpine rookie Jack Doohan.
One driver who did not even make the start was Racing Bulls newcomer Isack Hadjar, who crashed exiting Turn 1 on the formation lap – triggering an aborted start – and was left inconsolable at the side of the track.
WINNER'S WORDS
“It was amazing. A tough race, especially with Max behind me. I was pushing, the last two laps were a little bit stressful, but an amazing way to start the year. It’s a tough one because we went off, made some big mistakes and went through the gravel and did a lot of damage. It was just tricky conditions, but these are the ones that are enjoyable, fun and unpredictable, but this time we got it right and we ended up on top. I’m very happy.”
Lando
NORRIS
