Restrengthened Lando Norris storms to victory in thrilling Australian Grand Prix opener

Image credit: FORMULA 1. Albert Park returned as the season opener for the first time since 2019.

Albert Park returned to being the opening race of a Formula One season and served up an enthralling mixed-weather race to kick off a season of the ages.

Lando Norris weathered the storm to win the first race of 2025 comfortably, leading the World Championship for the first time in his pursuit of a maiden title after a minor bid last year. Four-time champion Max Verstappen demonstrated his talents to finish within a second behind, despite Red Bull’s struggles to tame their new car.

As predicted, McLaren efficiently ran first and second for most of the race after fending off a challenge by Verstappen, but a costly mistake by local Australian Oscar Piastri saw him tumble down to finish ninth during a frantic downpour towards the end of the race.

This promoted Mercedes’ George Russell to the podium; his rookie teammate, Kimi Antonelli, finished an impressive fourth after climbing his way through the field from sixteenth – becoming the second youngest F1 points scorer behind only Verstappen.

Rain once again proved itself to be the great equaliser as midfield teams looked to capitalise. Alex Albon, encompassed by Williams’ air of confidence, scored highly in fifth to achieve the teams’ best season start in over five years. Lance Stroll finished sixth for Aston Martin - the team now partnered with coveted aerodynamicist Adrian Newey. Nico Hulkenberg delivered astoundingly in his Sauber debut, scoring more points in a single race than the team did in 2024’s entirety.

Ferrari set ambitions high for 2025, now allied with seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, but the fairytale start hoped transpired to be the exact opposite. The two red cars struggled for pace, Charles Leclerc spinning before Hamilton briefly led the race during a frenzy of pitstops for dry tyres. Once the pair eventually pitted, Leclerc an underwhelming eighth and tenth. 

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda finished eleventh and twelfth respectively, both facing poor strategies after an optimistic qualifying. Tsunoda looked to prove Red Bull bosses wrong after Liam Lawson, who underperformed as he lost control and crashed, was promoted to the second seat at the top team for 2025 instead.

Haas’ new duo of Esteban Ocon and rookie Ollie Bearman were the last two finishers on the road, concluding a disastrous first outing of the year. 2024 F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto lost the car on the greasy track on debut; his manager, Aston Martin’s experienced Fernando Alonso, was uncharacteristically also caught out by the rain. 

RB’s young Isack Hadjar was first to be punished by the conditions, crashing into the barriers a mere two corners into the formation lap, causing an aborted start. Alpine’s Jack Doohan was next to crash once the race eventually began. Williams’ super signing Carlos Sainz was also caught out by the rain - a disappointing start to a new chapter in his career.

The Formula One 2025 season continues in China with many questions left pending.