Australian GP 2025
MARCH 16, 2025
Race Notes - Norris wins wet/dry opener
© McLaren
Lando Norris won the Australian Grand Prix in his McLaren-Mercedes by 0.895 of a second over Max Verstappen in the Red Bull-Honda, in a wet/dry race marred by many safety car periods.
George Russell in the Mercedes GP took third place 8.481 seconds behind the winner.
After taking the final race of 2024, Norris took the season opener in Melbourne, Australia. The win is the first win for McLaren this season and the five win of Norris’ career. It is also the first Australian GP win for Norris.
Across the line Kimi Antonelli (15.135s) in the second Mercedes GP finished fourth, but after having a five-second penalty applied, finished fifth on his Formula One debut.
Alex Albon (12.773s) in the Williams-Mercedes was fourth. After Antonelli, Lance Stroll (17.413s) in the Aston Martin-Mercedes was sixth, Nico Hulkenberg (18.423s) in the Sauber-Ferrari was seventh, Charles Leclerc (19.826s) in the Ferrari was eighth, Oscar Piastri (20.448s) in the second McLaren was ninth, and Lewis Hamilton (22.473s) in his Ferrari debut took the final point in tenth place.
It was damp and rainy before the start. Norris is on pole with McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri starting second, Verstappen and Russell on row two, Tsunoda and Albon on row three, Leclerc and Hamilton on row 4, and Gasly and Sainz rounding out the top ten.
At the appointed time the field took to the formation lap, and on the way around to the grid Isack Hadjar spins on the formation lap. The start is aborted and the cars are parked on the grid and the start procedure is begun once again.
The race formation lap will start at 15:15 local time, and the race distance is shortened by one lap.
The cars leave the grid and set off once again, all drivers are on intermediate tyres. Norris comes around and the cars form on the grid.
The lights go off and the race begins and Norris out in the lead, Verstappen takes second ahead of Piastri. At turn five Doohan crashes, the safety car is out. On lap 2 behind the safety car Carlos Sainz spins and hits the wall.
Norris leads over Verstappen, Piastri, Russell, Leclerc, Tsunoda, Albon, Hamilton, Gasly and Alonso tenth, followed by Stroll, Hulkenberg, Antonelli, Bortoleto, Ocon, Lawson and Bearman 17th.
At lap 4 the safety car is still out and the cars continue to drive through the pitlane while Sainz is cleared Ocon, Lawson and Bearman stop for fresh tyres.
McLaren reports to Norris that no significant rain is expected for 30 minutes.
At the start of lap 8 the safety car is in and the race resumes, with Norris leading with Verstappen, Piastri, Russell. Leclerc, Tsunoda, Albon, Hamilton, Gasly and Alonso in tenth.
At lap 10 there are spots where drying lines are starting to shine and spray is limited. Norris starts to go off line to keep the tyres cool.
Ferrari tells Leclerc to cool the front right tyre.
At lap 12, DRS is enabled/.
Hamilton reports that his car is quite snappy, and he runs in eighth. The drivers are trying to not have the wear the intermediates out.
On lap 14 Piastri sets fast lap at 1m30.555s.
Antonelli passes Hulkenberg for 12th.
The next lap Antonelli spins but continues Hulkenberg retaking the position.
On lap 17 Verstappen goes wide breaking into a corner and Piastri takes second place.
On lap 18 Antonelli retakes 12th.
On lap 19 Hamilton is closing on Albon.
At lap 20 Norris leads Piastri, Verstappen, Russell, Leclerc, Tsunoda, Albon, Hamilton, Gasly and Alonso in tenth, 39 seconds behind the leader.
Lawson passes Ocon for 15th.
On lap 20 Piastri sets fast lap at 1m29.727s. The rain drops seems to be picking up a bit.
At lap 23 Hamilton is complaining of a gear sync issue.
On lap 24 Piastri sets fast lap at 1m29.626s and again the next lap at 1m29.295s,
Leclerc is complaining of leaking water in the drivers seat.
On lap 26 Piastri sets another fast lap at 1m29.133s, and follows leader Norris by 1.2 seconds, and goes quicker at 1m29.037s.
On lap 29 Piastri has closed to a second of Norris in the lead, Piastri going quicker at 1m28.188s.
At lap 30 Norris leads Piastri by 0.9s, followed by Verstappen (16.9s), Russell (27.6s), Leclerc (33.6s), Tsunoda (48.5s), Albon (50.5s), Hamilton (52.5s), Gasly (56.0s), and Alonso (57.0s) in tenth.
On lap 32 Piastri goes over a verb and looses a second mumenteman 127625s.
On lap 34 exiting turn 6, Alonso hits the wall, the safety car is out.
Tsunoda, Albon, Hamilton, Gasly, Antonelli, Stroll pit.
As the cars come around the rest of the drivers pit for tyres, all drivers taking on medium or hard dry tyres.
Norris in the lead, followed by Piastri both on hard, Verstappen on mediums, Russell and Leclerc on hard, Tsunoda and Albon on mediums, Hamilton and Gasly on hard, and Antonelli in tenth on hard. Ocon and Bearman haven’t pit and are on intermediates.
Some teams are reporting that there might be a slightly harder rain coming for one or two laps.
On lap 38, with 19 laps remaining, the car is still under the safety car while Alonso’s car is cleared.
It is getting closer to a restart, and the clouds are getting darker.
The teams are not sure if the rain will skirt the circuit or not.
The two Haas cars end up pitting for medium tyres.
At the end of lap 41 the safety car is in and the race restarts.
Norris leads over Piastri and Verstappen.
The rain is reported to come in two laps, DRS is enabled.
Norris, 1m23.797s 122 162
On lap 44 the rain starts to fall
On lap 44 at the final corner Piastri spins Norris pits, Verstappen stays out.
Piastri is trying to get off the grass, and pits.
Verstappen leads Hamilton, Gasly, Tsunoda, Leclerc, Norris, Lawson, Russell, Albon and Stroll in tenth.
On lap 46 the rain is continuing to fall, Vertappen pits from the lead.
Hamilton leads Norris, Leclerc, Tsunoda.
On lap 47 Lawson hits the wall, Borroletto is off, the safety car is out.
Hamilton and Leclerc come in from second and third for intermediaes.
Behind the safety car Norris leads Verstappen, Rissell, Albon, Antonelli, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Hamilton, and Leclerc in tenth.
With a damp circuit, at the end of lap 51 the safety car comes in and the race resumes with five lap remaining. Norris leads ahead of Verstappen and Russell, Albon, Antonelli, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Leclerc and Hamilton in tenth.
Leclerc and Hamilton pass Gasly.
Antonelli is closing on Albon.
Piastri in behind Gasly in 11th.
On lap 55 Piastri passes Gasly for tenth.
Verstappen is right behind Norris in the lead.
On lap 56 Antonelli passes Albon for fourth.
On the final lap,Verstappen is 0.6 behind.
Antonelli in given 5-second penalty.
Across the flag Norris wins by 0.895 ahead of Verstappen, Russell is third.
Piastri passes Hamilton for ninth on the last lap.