2025 Australian Grand Prix: Full Weekend Report & Highlights (2025)

Formula 1 was back! After a three-month break, the2025 season,also the 75th FIA Formula 1 World Championship, roared into life at Melbourne’s Albert Park, where the semi-permanent street circuit set the stage for an action-packed season opener. With a record-equalling 24 races spanning five continents, the journey from Australia to the season finale in December promised high-stakes battles, fresh rivalries, and plenty of storylines to follow. As the drivers and teams took to the track for the first time since last year’s 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, all eyes were on Max Verstappen retaining the Drivers’ title and McLaren the Constructors’ Championship.

The Australian Grand Prix returned for its 39th edition, continuing a rich history in F1 that dates back to 1985. Originally held in Adelaide for its first 11 years—where it served as the season finale—the race moved to Melbourne’s Albert Park in 1996, where it had traditionally opened the season. With the exception of the pandemic-affected 2020 and 2021 seasons, Melbourne has been the backdrop for countless iconic moments in Formula 1. Australia had not held the season-opener since 2019 but would host at least five opening races of the year from this season until its contract at Albert Park ended in 2035.

Before the 2025 race, Michael Schumacher held the record for most victories in Australia with four, while Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel each held three wins to their names. A remarkable 20 other drivers have taken the top step here, making it one of the most diverse winners’ circles in F1 history. However, pole position has been a rarer club, with just 15 different drivers starting from P1—Lewis Hamilton leading the tally with eight poles, followed by Ayrton Senna with six. Could Hamilton add to that tally now wearing Scuderia red?

Among teams, McLaren and Ferrari were tied as the most successful, each boasting 11 victories. Ferrari, however, has been the team to beat in recent years, winning twice in the past three seasons—Charles Leclerc in 2022 and Carlos Sainz at the 2024 Australian Grand Prix. With their dominant 1-2 finish in 2024, Ferrari held the record for most podiums in Australia (28), outperforming McLaren (27). Meanwhile, the reigning world champions had been absent from the top step here since Button’s 2012 victory, a streak they were eager to break this weekend.

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Weekend schedule

In Saturday qualifying, Lando Norris edged out his home-hero teammate, taking pole position for the season-opening 2025 Australian Grand Prix, leading a McLaren front-row lockout ahead of Oscar Piastri. The reigning constructors’ champions lived up to expectations but made it hard for themselves after both drivers struggled on their first Q3 runs. With the pressure on, Piastri delighted his home crowd by briefly going fastest, only to be beaten moments later as Norris delivered a stunning 1:15.096, edging out his teammate by just 0.084s. Reigning drivers’ champion Max Verstappen secured third with a time almost half a second off Norris’s pace.

On Sunday, Lando Norris claimed his first victory of the 2025 season with McLaren in a dramatic, rain-soaked season opener, edging out the Red Bull of Max Verstappen in chaotic conditions. The McLaren driver now led the World Championship for the first time in his F1 career, but his native teammate Oscar Piastri could only manage ninth after a costly late spin while racing in second place at the time. With Piastri tumbling down the order, George Russell, running fourth place, took the third step on the podium for Mercedes. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton endured a challenging Ferrari debut, finishing 10th after the team’s risky switch to slick tyres in the damp conditions backfired.

Championship background

The Australian Grand Prix has never been kind to homegrown talent. Since joining the Formula 1 calendar in 1985, no Australian driver has ever finished on the podium at their home race—though Daniel Ricciardo came heartbreakingly close in 2014 before a technical infringement cost him second place. Could the 2025 Australian Grand Prix finally break the curse? Oscar Piastri, fresh off an impressive rookie campaign, would be looking to capitalise on McLaren’s strong pre-season form and challenge for victory on home soil. His teammate, Lando Norris, was widely considered the favourite after McLaren’s eye-catching performance in testing, but with the grid looking tighter than ever, nothing was guaranteed.

Meanwhile, all eyes were on Lewis Hamilton as he made his highly anticipated Ferrari debut. The seven-time world champion’s move from Mercedes to Maranello sent shockwaves through the sporting world, and now, after months of preparation, he was ready to race in red for the first time. Adapting to a new team after 12 years with Mercedes is no small task, especially with Charles Leclerc as a formidable teammate, but Hamilton was determined to make an instant impact in what promised to be a fiercely competitive season.

Reigning champion Max Verstappen may not of had the clear advantage he’d enjoyed in recent years, and his new teammate, Liam Lawson, faced an intense baptism of fire. With no single team standing out in pre-season testing, the battle at Albert Park was wide open. Whether it was a breakthrough for an Australian driver, a dream start for Hamilton at Ferrari, or another masterclass from Verstappen, the 2025 season opener was set to deliver high drama.

Race entries

The lineup of drivers and teams remained the same as the 2025 season’s entry list, featuring no reserve drivers for the race. However, Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster move to Ferrari may have dominated headlines, but it was just one of many major changes to the driver lineup in 2025. In fact, eight of the ten teams featured at least one new driver, making 2025 one of the most shuffled grids in recent memory. Only McLaren—sticking with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri—and Aston Martin—retaining Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll—remain unchanged.

Among the biggest moves, Liam Lawson stepped into a full-time Red Bull seat alongside reigning champion Max Verstappen, taking over from Sergio Perez after impressing with Racing Bulls (RB) last year. Meanwhile, Mercedes began a new era with 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, the highly touted Italian prodigy who replaced Hamilton following a meteoric rise through the junior ranks.

There was also a strong rookie presence elsewhere. Antonelli’s former F2 teammate Oliver Bearman joined Haas alongside Esteban Ocon, who had moved from Alpine, while the 2024 Formula 2 frontrunners, Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar, stepped up to Sauber and Racing Bulls, respectively. Jack Doohan finally got his shot at Alpine and could be one to watch, given the team’s promising pre-season form. Over at Williams, Carlos Sainz reunites with Alex Albon in what could be a dark-horse pairing for the midfield battle.

With so many fresh faces and driver changes, the 2025 season opener in Melbourne was set to deliver no shortage of storylines. How quickly would it take the rookies to adapt? Could Antonelli handle the pressure at Mercedes? And would Lawson’s promotion at Red Bull bring a new dynamic to the championship fight?

Tyre choices

Pirelli stuck with the same compound selection for the 2025 season opener as in 2024, bringing the C3 (white) as Hard, C4 (yellow) as Medium, and C5 (red) as Soft to Melbourne. However, while the choices remained unchanged, the tyres had evolved in construction and compound. With teams expected to generate increased aerodynamic loads on this final iteration of the current car regulations, Pirelli had modified the tyre construction to handle the added forces.

In terms of compounds, the C3 remained largely the same as in previous seasons, maintaining its reputation as the most balanced and versatile option. The C4, however, had been tweaked to reduce the likelihood of graining and improve durability, while similar refinements to the C5 aimed to make it a more viable race tyre. These changes were already tested during the 2025 pre-season test in Bahrain, where the C3 logged over two-thirds of the total mileage, giving teams plenty of data to work with.

Despite this familiarity, teams would need to adapt to the different demands of Albert Park compared to Bahrain. The track surface in Melbourne is notably different, which is why the C3 was classified as the Hard compound here, while in Bahrain, it would serve as the Soft later in the season.

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Free Practice

In FP1, Lando Norris set the pace as the2025 Formula 1 seasonroared to life, leading the session ahead of Williams’ Carlos Sainz. The McLaren driver, who had downplayed his team’s pre-season expectations, showed flashes of the speed many believe could propel him to a maiden title. However, the session wasn’t without drama, as British rookie Oliver Bearman suffered a heavy crash, making it a tough start to his full-time F1 career with Haas.

During FP2, Charles Leclerc set the pace in the second practice session of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, leading the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris with a best time of 1m 16.439s. WhileFP1was disrupted by two red flags—one due to loose gravel and another following a heavy crash for Haas rookie Oliver Bearman—FP2 ran much more smoothly, allowing teams to complete both qualifying-style runs and race simulations. However, the session wasn’t entirely drama-free, as Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg had an off-track excursion, Pierre Gasly reported brake issues, and several drivers encountered minor setbacks.

In FP3, Oscar Piastri set the pace in final practice, leading McLaren with a best time of 1:15.921. The session highlighted how closely matched the top teams were, with Mercedes’ George Russell finishing just 0.039s behind and reigning world champion Max Verstappen also within a tenth for Red Bull. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, preparing for his first Ferrari qualifying session, could only manage eighth as he continued adjusting to his new team and car.

Full Free Practice Reports

• 2025 Australian GP FP1: Norris goes top in Melbourne

• 2025 Australian GP FP2: Leclerc tops Practice Two ahead of McLaren

• 2025 Australian GP FP3: Piastri shows pace for McLaren

Free Practice 1 Classification

FP1 was held on 14 March 2025, at 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm local time.

Free Practice 2 Classification

FP2 was held on 14 March 2025, at 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm local time.

Free Practice 3 Classification

FP3 was held on 15 March 2025, at 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm local time.

Qualifying

McLaren dominated qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix, with Lando Norris securing pole position ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri, completing a front-row lockout for the reigning constructors’ champions. Max Verstappen had to settle for third after briefly holding provisional pole, while George Russell put in a solid performance to take fourth for Mercedes. With McLaren looking strong over one lap, Verstappen and Russell would be eager to challenge them when the lights went out on Sunday.

Full Qualifying Report

• 2025 Australian GP Qualifying: Norris secures pole down under

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Qualifying Classification

Qualifying was held on 15 March 2025, at 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm local time.

2025 Australian Grand Prix Starting Grid

The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Australian Grand Prix Qualifying session.

What happened in the 2025 Australian Grand Prix?

Lando Norris battled through chaotic conditions to claim victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, kicking off his 2025 title challenge in style. The McLaren driver, who started from pole, led for most of the 58-lap race at a wet and blustery Albert Park, fending off reigning champion Max Verstappen in a tense finish. With unpredictable rain showers, multiple crashes, and several Safety Car periods, the race kept drivers and teams on edge from start to finish.

McLaren’s early dominance in qualifying carried over into the race, with Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri controlling the front until the weather took a turn. As the rain returned for the final 15 laps, chaos erupted—both McLaren drivers slid off the track in the treacherous conditions. While Norris quickly recovered and dived into the pits for intermediate tyres, Piastri wasn’t as lucky. The home favourite spun into the grass, dropping to the back of the field and ending his hopes of a podium finish.

Despite the late drama, Norris kept his cool to secure his first win of the season, just ahead of Verstappen, who applied relentless pressure in the closing laps. The result saw Norris lead the world championship for the first time in his career, while McLaren’s mixed fortunes left them reflecting on what could have been. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s gamble to switch Lewis Hamilton to slick tyres backfired, leaving the seven-time champion to finish a disappointing 10th on his debut for the team.

Oscar Piastri recovered to finish ninth, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who endured a challenging debut race for Ferrari in 10th. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen’s race was filled with ups and downs. The reigning world champion initially passed Piastri on the first lap but lost the position after an early mistake. Falling 16 seconds behind the McLarens in the middle of the race, Verstappen briefly inherited the lead when Norris pitted. Still, he, too, had to stop for intermediates as the rain intensified.

As the race neared its chaotic conclusion, a third Safety Car period bunched up the field, setting up a tense final sprint to the finish. Verstappen, now right on Norris’ tail in the slippery conditions, pushed hard but couldn’t find a way past, allowing Norris to break his Dutch rival’s 63-race streak of leading the Drivers’ Championship—an unbroken run dating back to mid-2022. Behind them, George Russell capitalised on the late-race shake-up to snatch an unexpected podium for Mercedes, having spent much of the race outside the top three.

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli delivered an impressive comeback drive after his disappointing Q1 exit in qualifying, finishing fourth on the track. The 18-year-old originally crossed the line ahead of Alex Albon after a late overtake but was demoted to fifth due to a five-second penalty for an unsafe pit release. The penalty briefly dropped him behind Albon, but after a post-race review, he was reinstated to fourth, capping off a strong recovery in his debut Grand Prix.

After the race, Mercedes successfully overturned Kimi Antonelli’s five-second penalty by submitting a right-of-review request with new video evidence from the Italian’s roll hoop camera. Stewards agreed that no offence had been committed, reinstating Antonelli to fourth. Despite the decision, Alex Albon’s fifth-place finish still secured the Williams team’s best result since 2021, highlighting the team’s significant improvement over the winter break. Meanwhile, it was a tough afternoon for Lewis Hamilton, who finished with just a single point in his Ferrari debut after a frustrating and strategy-laden race.

Hamilton spent most of the race running in eighth while engaging in ongoing radio discussions about communication preferences with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami. However, with 10 laps to go, Ferrari took a gamble by keeping both cars out on slicks while others switched to intermediates, briefly promoting Hamilton into the lead. As conditions worsened, the decision backfired—Norris, on fresh intermediates, quickly passed him before a Safety Car was called. Ferrari was forced to pit both drivers belatedly, dropping them to the tail end of the top 10. Charles Leclerc recovered to eighth after passing Hamilton following a restart, while Oscar Piastri overtook the seven-time champion on the final lap, leaving him in 10th.

Elsewhere, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll had a solid drive to sixth, securing his first points since July and matching his Melbourne finish from 2024. His teammate Fernando Alonso wasn’t as fortunate, crashing out and triggering the second of three Safety Cars. Nico Hulkenberg delivered an unexpected seventh-place finish for Sauber, their best result in almost three years—already surpassing their entire 2024 points tally. While Antonelli’s recovery stood out, the 2025 rookie class endured a brutal initiation to Formula 1, with most struggling through a challenging race in tricky conditions.

The chaos of the race began before the lights even went out, as Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar crashed on his maiden F1 formation lap. The 20-year-old Frenchman appeared devastated as he walked away from his wrecked car, with tears visible inside his helmet. In a touching moment, Anthony Hamilton, Lewis Hamilton’s father, consoled the rookie in the paddock. Moments later, Alpine’s Jack Doohan fell victim to the treacherous conditions, crashing into the wall within six corners of the race start after being caught out by the spray.

The unpredictable weather continued to claim victims throughout the race. In the late downpour, Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson—who endured a miserable first weekend with the team—both spun out, failing to see the checkered flag. Even experienced drivers were not immune to the chaos. Carlos Sainz’s Williams debut lasted less than a lap, as he lost control and spun at the final corner despite the Safety Car already being deployed for Doohan’s accident. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso also fell victim to the conditions, crashing out to trigger another Safety Car period.

Haas rookie Oliver Bearman at least managed to see the finish line, but it was a weekend to forget for the Briton. After multiple crashes and spins in practice and qualifying, he finished as the last classified runner in 14th, capping off a brutal initiation to his first full F1 season. With rookies and veterans alike struggling in tricky conditions, the 2025 Australian Grand Prix proved to be a relentless test of skill, patience, and survival.

2025 Australian Grand Prix race results

The 2025 Australian Grand Prix Race was held on 16 March 2025, at 3:00 pm local time.

2025 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings for Drivers’ and Teams after the 2025 Australian Grand Prix.

2025 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings

2025 Post-Race F1 Constructors’ Championship Standings