Lando Norris stored his cool in a rain-hit and incident-packed season-opening Australian Grand Prix Sunday to edge world champion Max Verstappen with Lewis Hamilton tenth on his Ferrari debut.
The pole-sitting Briton took the chequered flag by lower than a second from the Dutchman, with Mercedes’ George Russell third after a chaotic race in Melbourne that noticed three drivers crash earlier than the top of the primary lap.
With the security automobile repeatedly compelled into motion after a slew of accidents on the moist Albert Park circuit, Norris held on to clock a fifth grand prix win and second in a row after topping the rostrum on the ultimate race of 2024 in Abu Dhabi.
RB rookie Isack Hadjar, Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Williams’ Carlos Sainz — final 12 months’s winner — all failed to complete the primary lap on a observe made treacherous by earlier torrential rain.
Norris got here into the season as favorite for the 2025 drivers’ title and cemented his standing as the person to beat.
“It was wonderful, a high race, particularly with Max behind me. I used to be pushing, particularly the final two laps — it was somewhat bit nerve-racking, not going to lie,” stated Norris.
“Tough circumstances, however there are those which are pleasing and we ended up on high so I am pleased.”
Verstappen, who’s aiming to turn into solely the second driver to win 5 straight world titles after Michael Schumacher, was within the hunt early however an uncharacteristic error on lap 18 dented his probabilities till one other security automobile put him again within the body.
“It was a tough race, however on the finish it was enjoyable,” stated the Dutch star.
“It was pushing, combating for the win however I am simply pleased to convey it residence, rating good factors and it is a good begin for us.”
Within the unpredictable circumstances, with rain on-and-off, Williams’ Alex Albon was an encouraging fourth forward of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli on his debut.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was sixth forward of Nico Hulkenberg in a Sauber.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc got here eighth, with Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri and Hamilton rounding out the highest 10.
Russell was content material with third, given the circumstances.
“It was an ideal race to come back residence in P3. And effectively finished to Lando, a race like that when you find yourself main might be your worst nightmare,” he stated.
“I used to be fairly having fun with it to be trustworthy, hoping the 2 guys forward made a mistake and I may slip by.”
Whereas torrential rain eased for the primary occasion, the difficult circumstances had been rammed residence when Hadjar skidded and hit the wall on the formation lap and was out earlier than the race even began.
The beginning was aborted and when the inexperienced lights lastly got here on, Norris, on intermediate tyres, made a clear leap and stored his place on the first nook.
– Max strain –
Verstappen additionally had a flying begin and handed Piastri to go second whereas Leclerc moved up two locations to fifth.
However the race was interrupted minutes later when Doohan ploughed into the wall, then the skilled Sainz did the identical on his Williams debut.
They restarted after a security automobile with Norris holding his spot forward of Verstappen and with Piastri they started pulling away from fourth-placed Russell.
With the observe drying, the hole to Russell was eight seconds by lap 13.
However together with his tyres beginning to put on, Verstappen brushed the gravel on lap 18 and Piastri flashed previous again into second.
Norris and Piastri powered 18 seconds forward of the Dutchman earlier than Fernando Alonso put his Aston Martin into the wall on lap 34 and the security automobile got here out once more.
All groups used the chance to make their pit stops with Norris and Piastri rising on hards and Verstappen on mediums.
After the security automobile peeled off, Norris flew right into a two-second lead earlier than Piastri, pushing onerous, skidded onto the grass to drop down the sphere as Verstappen powered previous.
However once more a security automobile was required when Pink Bull’s Liam Lawson spun, with Norris, Verstappen and Russell the highest three on the restart with seven laps left.
Verstappen pressed Norris onerous for the win once they acquired going once more, however the Briton was in a position to maintain on.
mp/dh
