In an exhilarating start to the 2025 F1 season Lando Norris clinched the Australian Grand Prix victory, marking a significant moment for both him and McLaren.
The race, held at the picturesque Albert Park in Melbourne, was characterized by unpredictable weather conditions, strategic battles, and dramatic incidents that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Lando Norris edged out reigning world champion Max Verstappen by just 0.895s to claim the 2025 Australian Grand Prix victory in a dramatic finish, while Mercedes’ George Russell completed the podium with a solid third-place finish.
From the outset, the race was filled with tension and anticipation. Norris secured pole position during qualifying with his teammate Oscar Piastri starting alongside him, creating a promising McLaren front-row lockout.
The first half of the F1 2025 Australian Grand Prix unfolded under challenging conditions, with rain intermittently soaking the track and forcing teams to make critical decisions regarding tire strategy.
As the lights went out, Norris maintained his lead into Turn 1 while Piastri initially struggled to fend off Max Verstappen in the Red Bull. Verstappen’s aggressive start saw him overtake Piastri positioning himself as Norris’s primary challenger early in the race.
However, it was not long before the treacherous track started claiming its first victims. Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Alpine rookie Jack Doohan were involved in separate incidents on the opening lap, forcing both drivers to retire.
The chaos continued as Visa Cash App Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar failed to even start the race after crashing on the formation lap.
As the track began to dry midway through the race, drivers switched to slick tires, leading to a reshuffling of positions. Norris maintained his lead with consistent pace, while Verstappen and Piastri engaged in a fierce battle for second place.
Verstappen managed to overtake Piastri, only for the Australian to reclaim his position with an audacious move around Turn 9. Meanwhile, George Russell quietly worked his way up the order, showcasing Mercedes’ improved pace this season.
While Norris expertly navigated the unfavourable conditions extending his lead, Verstappen began to experience tire degradation. The struggle culminated in a costly mistake for the Dutchman at Turn 11, where he ran wide and allowed Piastri to reclaim second place.
However, the race later saw a significant turning point when Fernando Alonso crashed his Aston Martin prompting a Safety Car deployment. The incident bunched up the field and created an opportunity for teams to reassess their strategies.
With rain threatening to fall once more after the race resumed, both McLaren drivers almost saw a much deserved 2025 Australian Grand Prix victory elude them after they ventured off-track in the final sector.
While Lando Norris managed to recover quickly and pit for intermediate tires, Oscar Piastri found himself stuck in the escape area after spinning off into wet grass.
With Piastri’s misfortune unfolding simultaneously with Verstappen’s strategic decision-making, the dynamics of the race shifted dramatically and the reigning world champion briefly inherited the lead as he chose to remain on slick tires despite worsening conditions.
However, it soon became apparent that Verstappen’s decision would backfire as rain intensified once more. The Red Bull team ultimately called their star driver in for intermediates, allowing Norris to regain control of the race.
The final laps were marked by intense drama as a late Safety Car period—triggered by crashes involving Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson—bunched up the field and set up a nail-biting finish.
Norris’ composure under pressure was commendable as he navigated through lapped traffic while maintaining his lead against Verstappen’s relentless pursuit.
However, despite Max Verstappen’s best efforts and a few heart-stopping moments where it seemed he might overtake the leading McLaren by utilizing DRS to mount a challenge, Lando Norris held his nerve to take the checkered flag claiming the 2025 Australian Grand Prix victory.
Behind the leading duo, George Russell capitalized on other drivers’ misfortunes to secure third place for Mercedes. His teammate, rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed with a strong performance but was demoted from fourth to fifth following a five-second penalty for an unsafe release during his pit stop.
The penalty elevated Williams’ Alex Albon to a remarkable fourth place after a consistent drive throughout the race.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll demonstrated his wet-weather prowess by finishing sixth, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg in seventh for Sauber.
Meanwhile, Ferrari endured a challenging day as strategic errors cost them dearly when rain returned late in the race.
Charles Leclerc managed eighth place after gambling on slick tires during the downpour, while Lewis Hamilton finished tenth on his Ferrari debut after briefly leading during an alternate strategy that ultimately backfired.
Further down the order, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly narrowly missed out on points with an 11th-place finish, followed by Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda in 12th. Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman struggled with tire strategy and finished 13th and 14th respectively.
