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British driver Lando Norris, representing McLaren, secured his maiden victory in the Australian Grand Prix, the opening race of the Formula 1 World Championship. The race, marked by chaos and unpredictable weather, saw Norris hold off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen following a third safety car intervention near the end. This win also marked his first triumph at Albert Park.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton had a disappointing debut with Ferrari, finishing in tenth place. He expressed frustration over the team’s repeated radio communications throughout the race.
Norris, competing in Melbourne for the first time since 2010, started from pole position. Initially, he faced pressure from Australian teammate Oscar Piastri, who set a series of fastest laps before being instructed by his team to hold his position. However, worsening rain conditions led Piastri to lose control in the penultimate corner on lap 44, dropping him down the order. He eventually recovered to finish ninth, earning two points.
Max Verstappen finished second, trailing Norris by just 0.895 seconds. The Dutch driver had started from third on the grid and capitalized on Piastri’s misfortune, the final safety car, and well-timed pit stops to secure his podium spot. Mercedes’ George Russell claimed third place.
Norris’ victory marked McLaren’s 12th win in Australia, breaking Ferrari’s previous record. Reflecting on his performance, Norris said:
“I knew I had good pace, but I made a mistake at Turn 6, allowing Max to overtake me with the DRS. This track offers a significant advantage with DRS, possibly up to a second per lap, which helped him stay close to me.”
He added:
“I know what I’m capable of, but this is just the first round. We need to repeat this next weekend and keep pushing forward. The season is long, and we must stay focused.”
Williams had mixed results; Alex Albon secured his best finish since Abu Dhabi 2020, while newcomer Carlos Sainz, last year’s Australian GP winner with Ferrari, retired after spinning out in the opening lap.
Mercedes celebrated a strong performance, with both cars finishing in the top five. Russell’s podium marked his first since winning in Las Vegas last year, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli, replacing Hamilton, impressed by finishing fifth after starting 16th.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll benefited from the race’s chaotic nature, climbing from 13th to sixth, ahead of Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg. Stroll earned eight points in what was a challenging weekend for his team.
Ferrari, the most successful team in Australian GP history with 11 wins since 1987, endured a disappointing outing, collecting just five points. Charles Leclerc finished eighth, while Hamilton came in tenth. The team, initially considered a title contender, now faces significant work ahead of next week’s Chinese Grand Prix.
The race began with high drama as Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar retired on the formation lap, while Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Williams’ Carlos Sainz were both eliminated in the opening lap.
Only 14 drivers finished the race. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso crashed into the barriers at Turn 8 on lap 34, while Red Bull’s Liam Lawson and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto also retired after separate incidents within the first ten laps.
