Lando Norris opened his 2025 title marketing campaign with a high-pressure victory forward of reigning champion Max Verstappen on an unpredictable rain-soaked afternoon on the Australian Grand Prix.
The pole-getter survived a battle with teammate Oscar Piastri and a visit via the gravel at Flip 12 to steer the sector on the third security automotive restart of the afternoon forward of Verstappen with 5 laps to go, establishing a high-stakes dash for victory.
The Dutchman acquired himself inside a second of the chief for the ultimate three laps, however the McLaren man refused to interrupt, holding him off by simply 0.895s.
“It was superb,” he mentioned. “A troublesome race, particularly with Max behind me.
“The final two laps have been just a little bit traumatic, I’m not going to lie, however an incredible option to begin the 12 months. To McLaren I’ve to offer a giant thanks, as a result of they’ve given me an incredible automotive.”
The autumnal sunshine that bathed the circuit as Norris took the checkered flag contrasted starkly with the heavy rain that had lashed Melbourne’s Albert Park within the hours main as much as the race, forcing the abandonment of two of the help class races, and although the showers had abated in time for drivers to line up on the grid, the circuit remained treacherously slippery.
Isack Hadjar was its first sufferer, spinning into the obstacles at Flip 1 on the formation lap and breaking his rear wing, placing himself out of what ought to have been his maiden grand prix.
The race acquired going after a 15-minute delay however was neutralized behind the primary of three security automobiles when Jack Doohan misplaced management of his Alpine over the painted street markings as he exited Flip 5, slamming into the wall.
Carlos Sainz then discovered the obstacles exiting the ultimate nook regardless of the warning on account of what the 2024 Australian Grand Prix winner described as “a large torque surge.”
After six laps to clear the wrecks, Norris led the sector away cleanly, keeping off Verstappen, who had jumped Piastri for second out of Flip 2 on the primary lap. The highest three held place, equidistant with gaps of round a second, for the opening laps as drivers acquired their eyes in on the slippery circuit.
However a lot as that they had achieved in qualifying, Verstappen’s tires quickly started to falter, his automotive much less sort to the Pirelli rubber. Pressured by Piastri into the fast Flip 9-10 chicane, Verstappen braked too late into Flip 11, crusing deep into the standing water on the curbs and permitting the Australian to sail into second place.
The Dutchman was fast on the radio to complain that his tires have been expiring, however Purple Bull Racing was reluctant to pit him with rain nonetheless on the radar. He light quickly from the lead battle, dropping nearly 1.5s per lap, to go away the McLaren drivers in what gave the impression to be an unique battle for victory.
Piastri put his foot down, slowly shredding what had been a 2.8s deficit to get inside DRS on lap 28. The Australian was visually brimming with confidence, afterward the brakes and sooner via the high-speed sections of the circuit, however on lap 30 he was instructed to carry station behind his teammate, with the transition to slick tires nonetheless on the horizon.
“I imply, I’m sooner, however OK,” he radioed again. At first he held himself inside DRS vary, however a mistake working deep at Flip 6 opened the hole again to 2.5s.
Instantly McLaren modified its thoughts. Piastri can be allowed to race his teammate in any case as long as he adopted workforce guidelines.
However the race was neutralized once more earlier than the house favourite might ponder combating again. Fernando Alonso had crashed at Flip 6, spinning his automotive over the curbs, sliding down the street and whacking into the barrier, placing himself out of the race. The second security automotive was instantly known as, sending many of the discipline again into the pits for dry tires.
With 23 laps remaining, Norris aced the restart regardless of Piastri attempting to crowd him within the last sector, and the slim dry line saved the sector in place again at racing pace.
However Melbourne had one additional twist. Darkish clouds had gathered over Albert Park, and groups unanimously forecast a heavy downpour at any minute.
It got here abruptly, arriving within the last sector simply because the McLaren drivers hit the brakes for Flip 12. They each sailed extensive into the gravel, and although Norris rejoined with the result in enter pit lane for intermediate tires, Piastri slid again throughout the street and onto the grass on the penultimate nook, coming perilously near beaching himself. The Australian rejoined final by the point he managed to scrabble again onto the street, his hopes of residence victory totally dashed.
Instantly Verstappen was again within the lead and playing on sticking with slicks, however because the rain intensified he too switched to intermediates, dropping again behind Norris.
In the meantime, additional again, Liam Lawson discovered himself within the obstacles exiting Flip 1 in an incident equivalent to Hadjar’s formation-lap crash, and Gabriel Bortoleto hit the wall heading into the penultimate nook. Each have been out of the race, and the ultimate security automotive was known as to clear the observe and arrange the race for its grandstand end.
The solar lastly confirmed itself from behind the clouds because the race restarted with 5 laps remaining. Norris led Verstappen, George Russell, Alex Albon and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as soon as the protection automotive returned to pit lane, the Briton instantly opening a second-strong lead.
The 2024 title runner-up was nearly utterly steadfast in protection, however a wobble via Flip 6 acquired Verstappen inside a second and into DRS vary, establishing a fraught last three laps. However with the dry line slim and Norris all out of errors, Verstappen couldn’t discover a means via.
George Russell accomplished the rostrum for Mercedes forward of teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Italian teenager was initially demoted again to fifth for an unsafe launch, selling Alex Albon to a sensational fourth for Williams, however that call was subsequently overturned.
Lance Stroll was sixth within the final surviving Aston Martin forward of Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Piastri recovered to ninth after an incredible transfer round Lewis Hamilton’s outdoors into the super-fast Flip 9, the primary a part of the again chicane, demoting the Briton to tenth.
Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman accomplished the finishers.
