2025 Australian Grand Prix Report: Norris beats Verstappen in Australia

Lando Norris secured a sensational victory at the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, converting his pole position into a hard-fought win amid chaotic weather conditions, multiple crashes, and dramatic Safety Car interventions.

Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix 2025 Race Summary

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The race at Albert Park began under wet conditions, with all drivers except Lance Stroll starting on intermediate tyres.

Norris led the early laps, with teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in pursuit.

As the track dried, drivers switched to slicks, only for a sudden downpour to create havoc and force another change back to intermediates.

McLaren’s dominance was disrupted when Norris and Piastri both went off track in the changing conditions.

While Norris managed to recover quickly and head into the pits, Piastri spun off at Turn 13, losing valuable time.

Verstappen, who initially stayed out on slicks, briefly inherited the lead before having to pit for intermediates himself, handing control back to Norris.

A late-race Safety Car, triggered by crashes for Red Bull’s Liam Lawson and Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, set up a nail-biting six-lap shootout between Norris and Verstappen.

Despite intense pressure from the reigning World Champion, Norris held firm to claim his first win of the 2025 season.

Norris and Piastri had built a commanding lead before Alonso’s crash at Turn 6 changed the dynamic of the race.

This incident led to a flurry of pit stops, with teams gambling on different tyre strategies as another round of rain loomed.

The race saw Verstappen take a brief lead before he was forced to switch to intermediates in deteriorating conditions, handing the advantage back to Norris.

The final laps were a tense duel between Norris and Verstappen, with the McLaren driver keeping his composure to take victory.

Final Race Results

Blackcircles F1 Tyre Focus

Tyre strategy played a critical role in the race, with drivers having to carefully navigate changing weather conditions. The early laps saw the entire grid on intermediates, except for Stroll, who initially opted for full wets but quickly switched.

As the track dried, most of the field switched to slick tyres, with McLaren and Mercedes opting for hards, while Verstappen chose mediums.

However, the rain returned unexpectedly, catching out several drivers. Both McLarens slid off at Turn 12, allowing Verstappen to take the lead temporarily. Piastri suffered the worst of it, spinning into the grass and losing a lap before recovering.

Lawson and Bortoleto’s crashes were partially due to the challenging conditions on slick tyres. Lawson admitted after the race that his decision to stay out on slicks for too long was a gamble that “didn’t pay off,” lamenting what he described as a “tough weekend.”

Meanwhile, Ferrari’s strategic misfire saw Leclerc and Hamilton stay out too long on slicks, dropping them down the order before they eventually pitted for intermediates.

The final six-lap shootout saw all drivers on intermediates, with Verstappen attempting to close in on Norris, but the McLaren driver had enough grip to fend him off for the win.

Race Highlights

• McLaren’s Strong Start: Norris and Piastri built a significant lead early in the race, controlling proceedings until the rain threw strategies into disarray.
• Alonso’s Heavy Crash: Fernando Alonso’s crash at Turn 6 triggered a dramatic shift in the race, forcing multiple pit stops and reshuffling the order.
• Verstappen’s Gamble: The Red Bull driver stayed out on slicks longer than others, briefly inheriting the lead before conceding to Norris when he had to pit for intermediates.
• Ferrari’s Strategic Blunder: Leclerc and Hamilton remained on slicks too long during the rain, dropping them down the order before pitting for intermediates too late.
• Rookie Excellence: Kimi Antonelli showed immense skill in mixed conditions, rising from 17th on the grid to finish fourth before a penalty temporarily dropped him to fifth—later reinstated.
• Williams’ Strong Performance: Albon secured his best result since 2020, finishing in fourth place.
• Major Incidents: Early crashes for Jack Doohan and Carlos Sainz under Safety Car conditions added to the drama of the race.
• Hadjar’s Nightmare Start: The Racing Bulls rookie crashed on the formation lap, ending his debut race before it even began.

An unfortunate moment for Fernando Alonso, crashing out of the Grand Prix 😱 #F1#AusGPpic.twitter.com/Jt6dtSZInl

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 16, 2025

Fastest Lap Of The Day By Lando Norris

Lando Norris set the fastest lap of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix on Lap 43, driving his McLaren-Mercedes.

The lap time was 1:22.167, recorded at 16:35:25 local time, with an average speed of 231.246 km/h.

This impressive lap underlined McLaren’s strong race pace, helping Norris maintain his lead and ultimately secure victory in a dramatic and unpredictable race at Albert Park.

What did the winner of the Australian GP 2025 have to say?

“It was amazing,” said Norris. “A tough race, especially with Max behind me. The last two laps were stressful, but an amazing way to start the year. It was just tricky conditions, but these are the ones that are enjoyable, fun, and unpredictable. This time, we got it right, and we ended up on top. I’m very happy.”

Lewis Hamilton says his Ferrari debut 'went a lot worse' than he expected

Lewis Hamilton finished 10th in the Australian Grand Prix on his Ferrari debut. Hamilton told Sky Sports F1 his weekend "went a lot worse" than he had expected.

"It was very tricky and went a lot worse than I thought it would go for me, I'm just grateful I kept it out of the wall because that's where it wanted to go most of the time. A lot to take from it and just getting acclimatised with the new power unit in the wet conditions. The settings it requires are different, and a different way of driving and a different set-up on the steering wheel.”

2025 Driver Standings After Australian GP

Next F1 Race Coming Up

Formula 1 now heads to Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix, scheduled from March 21-23. The battle between McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes is shaping up to be an exciting one, with Norris taking an early lead in the championship standings.

Image Credits: F1