Lando Norris claimed victory in a chaotic Australian Grand Prix, mastering difficult weather conditions and fending off a late challenge from Max Verstappen. In a race filled with crashes, three safety cars, and an aborted start, Norris and McLaren executed their strategy to perfection. His win, the fifth of his career, sets the tone for his championship ambitions in 2025.
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut ended in disappointment as a strategic mistake left him finishing 10th. His former Mercedes teammate George Russell secured third place after a solid drive in Melbourne.
Ferrari’s Costly Mistake and McLaren’s Perfect Strategy
Hamilton briefly led on lap 46, but Ferrari’s decision to keep him and Charles Leclerc on slick tires during a heavy downpour proved disastrous. Forced to pit under a safety car, both dropped down the order. Leclerc later overtook Hamilton, and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri also passed him after recovering from an earlier spin.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli impressed, charging from 16th to fourth, ahead of Williams’ Alex Albon in fifth. Antonelli was initially penalized for an unsafe pit release but had the penalty overturned on appeal.
Early Chaos and Race Interruptions
Even before the official start, drama unfolded when rookie Isack Hadjar spun his Racing Bulls car on the formation lap. The emotional Frenchman was seen with his head in his hands before returning to the pits. After a 15-minute delay, the race finally began, only for Jack Doohan to crash his Alpine and bring out the safety car. Moments later, Carlos Sainz lost control of his Williams and crashed as well.
Once the race got underway, Norris led while Verstappen overtook Piastri for second, only to run wide at Turn 11 on lap 17, allowing McLaren to regain a one-two position. The British team managed its tires better than Red Bull, building a 16-second gap before a crash by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso on lap 33 triggered another safety car.
Late-Race Chaos as Rain Returns
As the race restarted, looming rain created uncertainty. Norris wanted to pit early for intermediate tires but was advised to wait. When the rain arrived on lap 44, chaos ensued—both McLaren drivers spun, but while Norris recovered quickly, Piastri was briefly stuck in the grass before rejoining.
Verstappen took the lead by staying out but soon had to pit as the rain intensified. Ferrari then made their costly error, leaving Hamilton and Leclerc on slicks, only to see them struggle for grip and lose positions. Further incidents followed, including crashes for Red Bull’s Liam Lawson and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, triggering another safety car.
With five laps remaining, Norris initially built a lead but made a small error at Turn Six, allowing Verstappen to close in. However, the McLaren driver remained composed, securing victory ahead of Verstappen and Russell.
What’s Next?
The season moves swiftly to China next weekend for a sprint race on Saturday (03:00 GMT) and the main Grand Prix on Sunday (07:00 GMT) in Shanghai.