MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — McLaren’s Lando Norris won a chaotic rain-affected Australian Grand Prix, his first victory at Albert Park, with the British driver just managing to stay ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen following a third safety car late in Sunday’s season-opening Formula 1 race.
Lewis Hamilton had a miserable Ferrari debut, finishing 10th, frustrated by constant radio messages from his pit team. This race marked the first wet event at Albert Park since 2010, creating thrilling yet perilous conditions for the drivers.
Norris started from pole position and faced heavy pressure from his teammate Oscar Piastri, who initially set the fastest laps of the race until his team instructed him to hold position. The Australian driver later spun at the penultimate corner on lap 44, which forced him to drop down the ranks.
Despite this setback, Piastri fought his way back to secure ninth place, even managing to overtake Hamilton on the final lap. Verstappen crossed the finish line just 0.895 seconds behind Norris, taking advantage of Piastri’s misfortune and the safety car scenario to secure second place. Mercedes’ George Russell completed the podium, finishing third.
"I knew I had a good pace, but I made one mistake in turn six and he (Verstappen) got me in the DRS, and the DRS around here is probably like a second or something so allowed it to keep staying within second," said Norris after the race. This victory secured McLaren’s 12th win at the Australian Grand Prix, allowing them to surpass Ferrari's record of 11 wins at the venue.
Williams had mixed results, with Alex Albon finishing fifth—his best result since Abu Dhabi 2020—while Carlos Sainz went out at the final turn on the opening lap due to mechanical failure, unable to even complete the first lap.
For Mercedes, Russell’s return to the podium was particularly pleasing, as it was his first since winning in Las Vegas last year. Rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli shone as well, fighting back from 16th on the grid to finish fourth, successfully appealing his five-second penalty for unsafe pit stop release.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll also capitalized on the chaotic conditions, moving up from 13th to sixth place, displaying resilience on what had otherwise been a challenging weekend for the team.
Despite having historically been one of the most successful teams on this circuit, Ferrari left Melbourne feeling disappointed. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton struggled, finishing eighth and tenth respectively, with Hamilton lamenting missed opportunities after their mistakes during the race.
The race began with dramatic flair as Isack Hadjar from Racing Bull was forced to retire before the race even began, crashing during the formation lap. Jack Doohan and Carlos Sainz also exited early due to accidents on the opening lap, setting the stage for the unpredictability to come.
By the time the checkered flag waved, only 14 drivers completed the race, with significant crashes occurring under the challenging wet conditions. Fernando Alonso impacted the barriers at turn eight on lap 34, leading to yet another safety car incident, with Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto also crashing out just 10 laps from the finish.
With the season just beginning, teams will reflect on their performances as they head to the Chinese Grand Prix next week. "I know what I’m capable of, I know what I can do, but obviously it’s just round one, so we need to go and do it again next weekend and then continue from there. A long season ahead; we’ve just got to keep our head down and keep pushing," Norris emphasized, showcasing his determination as the competition evolves.
With McLaren's significant triumph and the lessons learned by rivals, Formula 1 fans can look forward to another exciting race as teams prepare their strategies for the upcoming challenge on the circuit.