The 2025 Formula 1 season began in the most unpredictable way possible in Melbourne. Rain, safety cars, retirements, and questionable strategic decisions turned the Australian GP into a test of survival, won by Lando Norris. The McLaren Briton secured his fifth victory in the category by resisting constant pressure from Max Verstappen, who crossed the finish line less than a second behind the leader. George Russell completed the podium for Mercedes.
Read more F1: Cadillac makes its debut with ambitions, but remains realistic
But the final result is only part of the story. The race was divided into dramatic chapters from before the start. On the formation lap, rookie Isack Hadjar aquaplaned and crashed, retiring before even officially starting in F1. After a new formation lap, the start brought more tension: Jack Doohan and Carlos Sainz also fell by the wayside in the opening laps, triggering the safety car.
At the restart, Norris kept the lead under direct pressure from Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, who even took second place at one point. Until the middle of the race, McLaren was heading for a comfortable one-two, with Norris opening up more than two seconds over his teammate, while Verstappen was already nearly 16 seconds behind.
The turning point came on lap 34. Fernando Alonso lost control of the car and crashed hard, causing another neutralization. Teams took the opportunity to switch to slick tires, but the choice of compound, medium or hard, already indicated distinct approaches for the remainder of the race.
That’s when the rain returned. And with it, definitive chaos. Piastri spun while in second place and plummeted to the back of the grid. Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto crashed and retired. In the Brazilian’s case, the accident occurred after he had already received a five-second penalty for an unsafe release in the pits. In total, only 14 of the 20 cars finished the race.
Ferrari had a particularly difficult Sunday. In addition to a lower-than-expected pace, the team’s strategy compromised the chances of a fightback. Charles Leclerc finished eighth, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who still lost a position to Piastri in the final part of the race.
Read more F1: Audi debuts project in Melbourne with optimism and caution
At the front, Norris had to manage maximum pressure. With DRS enabled in the final laps, Verstappen got within less than half a second, but found no room for a decisive attack at Albert Park. The historical difficulty of overtaking on the Australian track was confirmed once again, even in variable conditions.
Fourth place also had its drama. Andrea Kimi Antonelli received a five-second penalty for an alleged unsafe release, dropping to fifth behind Alexander Albon. Hours later, however, Mercedes appealed and convinced the stewards to overturn the decision, restoring the Italian to fourth position.
The final result consolidated Norris as the first leader of the 2025 championship and made it clear that the season promised balance and unpredictability. Melbourne, once again, fulfilled its traditional role: opening the year with a race capable of redefining narratives even before the second round.
Now, a year after that chaotic Sunday, Formula 1 returns to Albert Park for another season opener. This week’s Australian GP once again places Melbourne as the starting point of the championship — and, if recent history is any guide, unpredictability is something that should not be lacking.
Read more F1: McLaren analyzes tests and expectations for the start of the season
