Lando Norris opened the 2025 Formula 1 season on a high note, claiming victory at the wet Australian Grand Prix held at Albert Park, Melbourne, on March 16, 2025. After the cancellation of the F2 race, all eyes were on the F1 grid. The race began not without incident, as rookie Isack Hadjar crashed during the formation lap, prompting officials to restart the procedure.
Once racing got underway, Norris quickly took control, with Max Verstappen battling his way to second place behind him. Unfortunately, the excitement was cut short when another rookie, Jack Doohan, collided with the barriers on the opening lap, and Carlos Sainz encountered trouble under the safety car, both cases highlighting the treacherous wet conditions.
Despite the chaos, Norris drove skillfully to hold off Verstappen, finishing 0.895 seconds clear of the reigning champion. George Russell, representing Mercedes, completed the podium with third place, 8.481 seconds behind the leader. Notably, Lewis Hamilton crossed the finish line tenth, earning one point as he made his debut with Ferrari.
The final standings from the Australian Grand Prix were as follows:1. Lando Norris (McLaren Mercedes): 1:42:06.304 | 25 points2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT): +0.895 seconds | 18 points3. George Russell (Mercedes): +8.481 seconds | 15 points4. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): +10.135 seconds | 12 points5. Alexander Albon (Williams Mercedes): +12.773 seconds | 10 points6. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes): +17.413 seconds | 8 points7. Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber Ferrari): +18.423 seconds | 6 points8. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +19.826 seconds | 4 points9. Oscar Piastri (McLaren Mercedes): +20.448 seconds | 2 points10. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): +22.473 seconds | 1 point11. Pierre Gasly (Alpine Renault): +26.502 seconds | 0 points12. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls Honda RBPT): +29.884 seconds | 0 points13. Esteban Ocon (Haas Ferrari): +33.161 seconds | 0 points14. Oliver Bearman (Haas Ferrari): +40.351 seconds | 0 pointsDNF: Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar.
Norris's triumph marks his fifth career Grand Prix victory and sees him take the championship lead for the first time, boasting 25 points after this impressive outing. Verstappen holds second with 18 points, and Russell currently sits third with 15 points.
Key to Norris's success was not only his driving skills but also McLaren's strategic approach, which decisively affected race outcomes, especially contrasting their challenges during the previous season.
The standing updates for the drivers post-Australian Grand Prix show:
1. Lando Norris (McLaren F1 Team): 25 points
2. Max Verstappen (Oracle Red Bull Racing): 18 points
3. George Russell (Mercedes): 15 points
4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): 12 points
5. Alex Albon (Williams): 10 points
6. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin): 8 points
7. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber): 6 points
8. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): 4 points
9. Oscar Piastri (McLaren): 2 points
10. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): 1 point.
Reflecting on the race and performance, Norris encapsulated the team's progress saying, "Norris kept it together in a chaotic race to take his fifth F1 grand prix victory," emphasizing not only the challenge faced but also the wheel-in-wheel quality of competition this year. This victory becomes not just about leading the standings, but also taking the first step toward what could be the best season yet for McLaren and Norris.
The constructors' standings post-race show McLaren at the top with 27 points, tied with Mercedes. Red Bull currently trails with 18 points, creating exciting dynamics for the season.
Despite this celebration for Norris, it was not the best day for Ferrari with Hamilton and Leclerc finishing far down the order. This sets up interesting narratives as the season progresses and positions build.