Lando Norris clinched a dramatic victory for McLaren in a turbulent and rain-affected Australia GP, holding off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after a late safety car intervention in the opening round of the Formula 1 season.
Lando Norris, starting from pole position, controlled the wet conditions in Melbourne to secure his first-ever win at Albert Park, in the Louis Vuitton Australian GP.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton endured a frustrating debut with Ferrari, finishing in a disappointing tenth place.
The seven-time world champion appeared irritated by the frequent radio communications from his team throughout the race.
Despite intense pressure from his teammate Oscar Piastri early on, Norris remained composed as the Australian driver recorded a series of fastest laps.
However, Piastri lost control in the penultimate corner on lap 44 as the rain intensified, dropping positions in the process.
A late recovery allowed him to reclaim ninth place, overtaking Hamilton on the final lap and securing two championship points.
Verstappen, who had started from third on the grid, finished just 0.895 seconds behind Norris.
The Dutchman capitalized on the late safety car period and strategic pit stops to close the gap but ultimately fell short.
Mercedes’ George Russell rounded out the podium, marking his first top-three finish since his victory in Las Vegas last season.
“I knew I had strong pace, but I made a mistake in Turn 6, and he caught me in the DRS zone,” Norris explained after the race.
“Here, DRS is worth about a second, so that allowed him to stay close.” The win marked McLaren’s 12th Australia GP victory, surpassing Ferrari as the most successful team in the event’s history.
Williams experienced contrasting results in Melbourne. Alex Albon secured his best finish since Abu Dhabi 2020.
While new recruit Carlos Sainz, suffered an early exit after going off at the final corner of the opening lap.
Mercedes, on the other hand, had reasons to celebrate, placing both cars in the top five.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll also made the most of the chaotic conditions, climbing from 13th to sixth.
Nico Hülkenberg of Sauber followed in seventh, securing valuable points for his team on a weekend where dry-weather pace remained a challenge.
Despite being the most successful constructor in the history of the Australia GP, Ferrari endured a frustrating weekend.
Charles Leclerc managed only an eighth-place finish, while Hamilton’s tenth-place result meant the Scuderia left Melbourne with just five points.
Initially considered a strong championship contender ahead of the season opener, Ferrari now faces a significant challenge as they prepare for the Chinese Grand Prix next week.
The race began dramatically, with Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar failing to complete the formation lap.
Alpine’s Jack Doohan also retired early after colliding with Sainz on the first lap.
The tricky wet conditions saw a total of six drivers fail to finish, leaving only 14 cars crossing the checkered flag.
Fernando Alonso crashed his Aston Martin into the barriers at Turn 8 on lap 34.
As the first race of the season comes to a close, McLaren celebrates a historic win, while Ferrari and other teams reflect on a challenging start.
With the next round in China fast approaching, the championship battle is only just beginning.
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