Here is what we thought after the primary race of the season…
McLaren is certainly sturdy
Though the profitable margin wasn’t that massive, there’s an overriding feeling after Australia that on a dry monitor the papaya automobiles would have disappeared into the gap.
For now, the conclusion that McLaren would be the group to beat in 2025 nonetheless stands. Nevertheless, to place the favorite tag on Lando Norris and his group, we’ll have to attend for the primary ‘regular’ race… This Sunday in Melbourne was just too loopy.
– Oleg Karpov
By no means write off Verstappen, even when he does it himself
Max Verstappen was clear earlier than he left for Australia: “In the mean time just one [team can win], and that group is orange!” Even earlier than qualifying, he did not assume Crimson Bull can be ready to problem for the rostrum, not to mention victory. With Helmut Marko predicting a second row was potential, Verstappen feared Crimson Bull wouldn’t even make Q3.
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Photograph by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Pictures
P3 on the grid might have value his father a wager in opposition to Marko, however extra importantly, it confirmed that with Verstappen, Crimson Bull is able to combat. That was much more the case within the Australian rain. Verstappen as soon as once more confirmed his skills within the moist, pushing Norris till the final lap.
– Ronald Vording
Williams’ tempo is actual
Williams has been one of many greatest surprises of winter testing. James Vowles insists in each interview that his group’s focus is on 2026 and past, however the group is able to seize some massive outcomes this 12 months. Carlos Sainz crashed out early within the Australian Grand Prix, however Alexander Albon saved the day for the Grove-based group – and much more so!
At each the Bahrain take a look at and the Melbourne qualifying session, Williams confirmed its true tempo within the dry after which added a formidable efficiency within the moist. Albon’s fourth place at Albert Park is already a giant end result within the constructors’ championship and this primary race has made it very clear: there’s extra to come back from Williams this season.
– Ronald Vording
Expertise continues to be wanted
It wasn’t the best weekend for the rookies, and whereas the F1 2025 newcomers are all extraordinarily proficient, expertise was undoubtedly wanted on a wet Sunday afternoon in Melbourne. Isack Hadjar crashed on the formation lap, Jack Doohan simply seconds after the beginning, and Gabriel Bortoleto could not maintain his automotive out of the partitions in the long run. It wasn’t a straightforward weekend for Oliver Bearman both, as he bumped into hassle as early as Friday. Liam Lawson, who can also be beginning his first full season in F1, could not put collectively an excellent lap in qualifying and ended up crashing into the wall within the race.
Jack Doohan, Alpine crash
Photograph by: James Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
Do not decide them too harshly simply but, although. Melbourne is a difficult monitor to begin a brand new season on as a rookie, particularly with the rain on Sunday. The errors made by the likes of Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso present that it wasn’t straightforward for anybody. However for some drivers, resembling Doohan and Lawson, the strain will probably be even better any longer…
– Oleg Karpov
Antonelli reveals why he is the actual deal
Seems like he realized the best classes from his peculiar and transient look at Monza final 12 months: Andrea Kimi Antonelli makes his Formulation 1 debut in Melbourne, ending a powerful fourth! He misplaced a place in a while as a result of an unsafe launch by his group, however that does not take away from the 18-year-old’s spectacular debut.
Of the six rookies (together with Lawson and Bearman), solely two completed the race – and Antonelli was the one one to attain factors. This reveals why Toto Wolff thinks so extremely of him: sure, Antonelli spun within the difficult circumstances, however apart from that, he did not put a foot fallacious and stayed out of the chaos in a really difficult Grand Prix – a extremely sturdy first efficiency!
Pictures from Australian GP – Race
– Frederik Hackbarth
On this article
Motorsport.com employees writers
Formulation 1
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