Lando Norris clinched victory at the rain-affected 2025 Australian Grand Prix, holding off defending champion Max Verstappen in a thrilling season opener at Melbourne’s Albert Park. The race was marked by unpredictable weather conditions, leading to numerous incidents and safety car deployments.
Norris, starting from pole position, showcased exceptional skill in the wet conditions, maintaining his lead despite pressure from Verstappen. The McLaren driver completed the 57-lap race in 1:42:06.304, finishing just 0.895 seconds ahead of Verstappen.
The challenging conditions led to several crashes and retirements, with only 14 of the 20 cars finishing the race. Notably, debutant Isack Hadjar spun out during the formation lap, and early incidents involved Jack Doohan and Carlos Sainz. Late-race chaos ensued with further accidents, prompting safety car interventions and a tightly contested finish.
Mercedes’ George Russell secured the third spot on the podium, delivering a solid performance amidst the turmoil. His teammate, rookie Antonio Kimi Antonelli, impressed by finishing fourth, showcasing Mercedes’ potential this season.
Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, faced a challenging race. Despite starting from second position, Piastri encountered difficulties, including a spin on lap 44 due to the slippery track, which dropped him to 14th place. He managed to recover and finished ninth after a last-lap overtake on Lewis Hamilton. Earlier in the race, Piastri was instructed by McLaren to hold position behind Norris, a decision he found frustrating but accepted as part of team strategy.
Lewis Hamilton’s debut with Ferrari resulted in a tenth-place finish. The team’s gamble to switch to slick tyres early did not pay off, as the persistent rain made the track conditions unsuitable for such a move. Hamilton expressed dissatisfaction with the car’s performance under the wet conditions, indicating that Ferrari has work to do to become competitive in varying weather scenarios.
The final race classification was subject to adjustments following a protest by Mercedes regarding Kimi Antonelli’s position. After review, the race stewards upheld the protest, leading to a revised finishing order.
