NEWS AGENCIES
Combined by Nyreen Laswad
Melbourne, Australia— The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix today presented a most memorable spectacle at the Albert Park circuit, a race that was defined by a number of safety car appearances amid hubbub and aftershocks. It gave an historic victory for Lando Norris, the McLaren driver.
The 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship began in the opening round under rainy conditions, providing the lively Australian fans with an action-packed race filled with surprises, and strategic challenges.
The action began with Lando Norris on pole. Far from being dull, the initial stages were soon spoiled by a chaotic series of events that saw an above-average number of safety car appearances. Hager lagged the pack into the first turn eleventh on the grid, but he lit his rear Pirelli tyres ablaze at Turn 2 and bumped into the barriers, tearing the rear wing of his Racing Bulls car extensively. The damage he suffered was so extensive that his day was done before the Australian Grand Prix had even begun, and a start delay.
After a 15-minute delay and a second formation lap, the race was underway quickly in Melbourne, but there was more drama to come. The safety car was brought onto the track after just one tour, with Jack Doohan the next driver to clip the barriers as he came into Turn 6, his Alpine car’s rear tyres apparently spinning with a gear change.
With the circuit neutered, Carlos Sainz proved that the conditions were not only tough for the rookies, as he got to the rear of his Williams car at the final turn and hit the wall. During the chaos, Lando Norris driving his McLaren started well and was able to position himself well among the front challengers.
Max Verstappen in Red Bull Racing car had a good position, but could not get to his usual comfortable distance. McLaren was remarkably quick, which meant that they could just challenge the current champion.
The tactical element of the race was most vividly demonstrated during the several pit stop opportunities and the associated safety car phases. The McLaren operation played their card to a T, preserving Lando Norris in running order and benefiting from the timing of the neutralizations.
A telling point arrived on Lap 57, by which stage there had already been a significant number of safety car laps. As the race was drawing to a close, Max Verstappen made a desperate move on Lando Norris to take the lead. Verstappen, whose name is synonymous with tenacious drive, closed in and made a concerted effort to overtake Lando Norris’s McLaren. Lando Norris, however, defended his spot with brilliant skill, fending off the Red Bull driver and showing an unbelievable level of calm under extreme pressure. The frantic battle saw the crowd clinging to the edge of their seats, but Norris managed to retain his hard-gained lead ultimately.
In their wake, George Russell scored a solid third for Mercedes, adapting nicely to the chaotic race. Alex Albon drove a peach for Williams, making the most of the malfunctions and showcasing scintillating speed to score a deserved fourth position. Mercedes’ new recruit Kimi Antonelli went on to impress in his first Formula 1 season, initially taking the chequered flag in fifth. But it later emerged that Andrea Kimi Antonelli received a 5-second penalty.
That penalty will ultimately come into effect in terms of his race position. Lance Stroll managed to take sixth for Aston Martin, Nico Hülkenberg once more demonstrating the pace of the Haas by finishing seventh.
And Charles Leclerc P8 in Ferrari, Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren P9, who probably had more of an eventful race than his teammate, while Lewis Hamilton got P10 in Ferrari.
The victory for Lando Norris is a milestone in his Formula 1 career as he took his win in this race which has a reputation for being unpredictable and having a large number of safety car deployments. His consistent performances and undisputable talent at last rewarded him with a top step finish, as the McLaren team was seen celebrating wildly.
The 2025 Australian Grand Prix will be one to remember for a race that was thrilling, full of safety car intervals, and full of surprises. Lando Norris’s record-breaking victory, the early chaos and retirements, the strategic challenges brought about by the constant neutralizations, and the desperate fight for the lead all combined to make for a real thriller of an event that has undoubtedly added to the thrill of the Formula 1 season. Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s penalty, while its impact is on his last position, does not detract from the good performance he gave in his first race.
