COLUMBIA, Mo – Formula One returned to action for its 75th season this past Saturday, and in a chaotic wet race that saw multiple drivers exit, Lando Norris claimed victory for Mclaren. Setting the stage for what could be an all-time great season of Formula One, the Australian Grand Prix provided excitement, intrigue and more. Let’s dive in.
Norris beats Verstappen
Reigning four-time champion Max Verstappen had stood at the top of the Formula One standings for a historic 1,029 days, spanning multiple seasons, but even in wet-race conditions, he couldn’t stop the powerful pair of Mclaren and Lando Norris. The MCL39 is every bit the powerful car that its predecessor was, and its pair of drivers seem to be ready to handle the heat that Verstappen and the rest of the grid are prepared to throw their way.
Locking out the front row of the grid in qualifying, Norris and fellow Mclaren driver Oscar Piastri seemed primed to score a 1-2 podium finish despite the difficult race conditions that were predicted for Saturday. Handling the shifting weather conditions, Piastri and Norris led Verstappen after the second Safety Car period ended, but in the final sector of Lap 44, both Mclaren drivers slid off-track with rain intensifying. Though Norris managed to recover and maintain positioning, Piastri was beached in the grass, losing out on the podium in his home race.
With Verstappen on his bumper by the time the third Safety Car period ended on Lap 52, Norris fans were likely reminded of the lows of the previous 2024 season, when the Dutchman often won out against the Briton despite having weaker machinery. However, Norris proved he’d learned from the previous season’s setbacks, out-driving Verstappen in the final five laps enroute to first place.
Rookie Roundup
One of the most intriguing storylines of this season will be how the six rookies fare in the highest level of motorsport. In a racing league where oftentimes the best up-and-coming talent gets passed over for the well-established, teams opted for youth in place of experience this season. However, the opening weekend proved it won’t be an easy transition for the young crop on the grid, as all rookies faced hardship.
Oliver Bearman finished 14th for Haas, in a weekend he’d likely hope to erase from fans’ and pundits’ memory alike. After subbing in three times for Ferrari and Haas during the 2024 season, it seemed like the young British driver was one of the most experienced rookies to drive an F1 car. However, the Haas VF-25 seems to be a weaker car than the 2024 iteration, and clearly both drivers in the American-backed team seemed to struggle. Bearman crashed in FP1, missed FP2, crashed again in FP3, and was unable to drive in qualifying due to gearbox issues. He completed the race but came last of the 14 drivers to finish and was over a minute off the pace of the leaders, a worrying sign for both the team and driver to consider.
F2’s runner-up in 2024, Isack Hadjar fared marginally better. The French Algerian driver posted solid lap times in all three practice sessions and qualified best of the rookies in P11. On race day though, the Racing Bulls driver lost control of his car during the formation lap and ended his first race before it even began.
Oceania’s home-grown rookies suffered mid-race exits as well. Qualifying 14th on the grid, Alpine’s Jack Doohan managed to start the race, but on turn six of Lap 1, crashed into the barrier while suffering a spin due to the heavy rain. Starting from the pit lane on race day, Red Bull’s Liam Lawson stayed out of trouble in the back of the field for the majority of the race. However, on Lap 47, in a gamble to get into the points, Red Bull elected to keep Lawson out on mediums. That strategy proved to be fatal, as soon after, the Kiwi driver also ended his race in the wall.
Arguably the most talented of the bunch, reigning F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto, also ended his day with his car in the wall. After running off track at Turn 13, the Stake driver entered a spin and hit the barrier.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli offered the most impressive showing of the group on race day. After having qualified in 16th, and struggling in the early going, the 18-year-old Italian driver capitalized on the chaos of the race, finishing in 4th place just behind his teammate George Russell.
The Best of the Rest
Despite the chaos of the Australian Grand Prix ending six driver’s days early, many other representatives on the grid left Albert Park elated with their results.
Stake’s Nico Hülkenberg ended the day in P7, scoring six points for a team that had finished with only four the season prior. Though finishing in the points will likely be few and far between for a team that is in the midst of a transition of ownership, Hülkenberg’s respectable placement is yet another reminder of how good he still can be in his 15th season on the grid.
Aston Martin finished the day on a positive note as well, as Lance Stroll powered the AMR25 to a P6 finish, matching his result from the year prior. Oftentimes disregarded in F1 thanks to his father Lawrence’s role as part-owner and executive chairman of Aston Martin, Stroll’s finish is important in establishing his credibility as a driver in his ninth season in the sport.
Alex Albon’s P5 finish for Williams was the British Thai Driver’s best result in F1 since his time spent at Red Bull. Entering his fourth season with F1’s third oldest constructor, Albon has been a part of Willaims’ attempt to re-enter the championship conversation after years spent as a backmarker. If the great first result is anything to go by, Albon and Williams could be the team to look out for in 2025.
Final Thoughts
Coming to the end of the current-era regulations implemented in 2022, F1’s 2025 season is shaping up to be one to remember. If the Australian Grand Prix is anything to go by, expect fireworks for the rest of the season to come.
F1’s second round of action will be March 21-23, for the Chinese Grand Prix.