Lando Norris on McLaren, triumphed in the Australia Grand Prixthe first test of the Formula 1 World Cup on the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne. Under a pouring rain, the English pilot Max Verstappen preceded the finish line on Red Bull and George Russell on Mercedes. Bad Ferrariswith Charles Leclerc Ottavo and Lewis Hamilton Decimo. Note of merit for the young debutant Kimi Antonelli: the 18 -year -old Bolognese pilot impressed in his debut in Formula 1, obtaining an excellent fifth place, despite a penalty imposed on his Mercedes.
The race was characterized by adverse weather conditions and numerous twists. The GP started under water and strong gusts of wind, with the asphalt that immediately became slippery increasing the risk of accidents. Already within the training tour, Isack Hadjar of the Racing Bulls ended up against the barriers, failing to take part in the competition anymore and retreating prematurely. At the start, then, Jack Doohan of the Alpine lost control of his single -seater, causing the first intervention of the Safety Car. Shortly thereafter, Carlos Sainz, debut with Williams, was the protagonist of an accident, right behind the Safety Car, also leaving on stage in the early bars. A race also marked by numerous retreats, including those of Fernando Alonso, Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto, all involved in accidents due to the track conditions. Despite all the difficulties, Norris has maintained calm and, thanks to an impeccable strategy of Team McLaren, he managed to manage the pressure exerted by Verstappen in the last laps, thus ensuring the victory.
The Ferraris, in great suffering, instead struggled to find the rhythm in these difficult conditions. Charles Leclerc did not hide the disappointment After the eighth place and, on Sky Sport’s microphones, Mea Culpa did: «Today it did not go well, but before talking about the team choices I think the biggest mistake was mine, when I lost the car out of the curve. All this cost me 4-5 positions ». Monegasco then explained how Melbourne’s was “a difficult race, now there will be things to look at and improve. As a first race I expected much better. I am very disappointed but let’s get back in the car in four days and we can make up for it ».
“It’s a shame because I hoped for something more Today I kept hard until I could, at a certain point we had found ourselves in a position in which to fight for the podium remaining out, but then even more rain came and the situation worsened ». Lewis Hamilton thus reads his first race with Ferrari After the tenth place obtained in the Australia GP. «It was one of the hardest days – adds the seven times world champion to Sky – being in those conditions for the first time in the rain, on this machine and with this power unit, with all the functions of the steering to be managed and new communications with the engineers, it was a huge challenge. Worst performance of the expected? No – Hamilton assured – we didn’t bring the car into the window, but I don’t think the car is as far as far as it was today. Even in qualifying, I don’t think we managed to extract the performance of the car ».
A vision also confirmed by the team manager of the Italian team, Frederic Vasseur: «From this race it is difficult to bring home something positive. On the weekend we struggled and the strategy in the race was not good. Let’s focus on the next race, we know that the season will be long, we are better than what we have shown today ». Vasseur, analyzing the problems of the single -seater, explained how the weather conditions have conditioned the performance on the track: «If we talk about the qualification step I think that on the dry lap we were slower than McLaren throughout the weekend but better than yesterday in qualifications. Today was another story, plus a question of conditions and strategy, but as pure step we were at the level of Mercedes ».
To all this, Norris’ joy is to be opposed for success: «It was an incredible race, of the highest level, especially with Max Verstappen behind me. I prompted a lot, especially in the last two laps: it was a bit stressful, I don’t want to lie ».
This success represents a promising beginning for Norris, to the fifth career victory, but more than anything else the Australian circuit has confirmed that 2025 can really give a compelling and competitive season.