McLaren’s Lando Norris begins the 2025 F1 season with victory forward of Max Verstappen in an eventful and rain-affected Australian Grand Prix.
McLaren’s Lando Norris swept to victory in a moist and wild Australian Grand Prix, holding off defending champion Max Verstappen in a white-knuckle end to a Method One season opener plagued by crashes and security automobiles.
George Russell of Mercedes was third on the slippery Albert Park circuit, the place solely 14 of the 20 automobiles completed within the treacherous situations in Sunday’s race.
Norris, the preseason favorite for the motive force’s title, began the F1 season as he completed the final at Abu Dhabi, with victory from pole.
His teammate Oscar Piastri began second on the grid however completed ninth, his desires of turning into the primary house driver to assert victory or a comfort podium had been ended with a skid into the grass.
Lewis Hamilton’s debut for Ferrari proved a humid squib with the Briton ending tenth, two locations behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris, who claimed his first win in Melbourne and the fifth of his profession, mentioned it had been a troublesome race with Verstappen respiration down his neck.
“It was superb. Robust race, particularly with Max (Verstappen) behind me,” he mentioned.
“I used to be pushing, particularly within the final two laps. It was a bit bit disturbing, not going to lie.
“This time we received it proper and ended on prime so I’m joyful.”
Norris now leads the F1 drivers’ championship for the primary time in his profession. He’s the primary McLaren driver to steer the championship since Hamilton after the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix.
