[Image: FMT]
After months of excitement and a fair bit of drama, the 2025 Formula One season finally kicked off in Australia this weekend, and it was a cracker.
Norris and his McLaren took the flag for his first victory, which was also the first time he had won the opening race of a season, and the perfect start for the 25-year-old’s title ambitions. Following the race, Norris reckons they could do even better on other tracks as he hailed the car’s performance.
“I do think we are the favourites. We are the team to beat. The car is flying. There will be tracks where we are even better.”
George Russell, who was third for Mercedes, had suggested earlier in the weekend that the pace of the McLaren had made it all but untouchable already. Norris welcomed the comment but had this to say:
“If that is their mentality, then wonderful because that is not the mentality to have,” he said. “We know we have a lot of work to do in this car and if you do relax, you have failed.”
“In Formula One if you start to think everything is good and groovy that is when you get caught.”
At Ferrari, however, it was clear there was work to be done. Hamilton finished 10th and said adapting to his car and team is taking time.
The seven-time world champion started the 2025 F1 season-opener from eighth on the grid, following a difficult qualifying for the Maranello-based team. Hamilton failed to make many places in the opening laps and spent the majority of the race towards the bottom of the points.
He also had some terse exchanges with his race engineer, Riccardo Adami:
Hamilton: “Struggling with drivability, the car is snappy.”
Adami: “You can use K1 when you’re close.”
Hamilton: “Leave me to it, please.”
Adami: “K1 available.”
Hamilton: “Yes I know, leave me to it please!”
Adami: “Try to hold the K1, just for practice. I know it’s difficult.”
Hamilton: “I’m not close enough!
Adami: “Copy.”
Hamilton: “I’m not close enough. If I have him closer I’ll do it.”
Hamilton: “What position am I in now?
Adami: “P9.”
Hamilton: “Shit… Sorry didn’t realise the radio is on.”
Carlos Sainz’s crash in Lap 1 will put a dampener on his campaign for the title, but if it’s any consolation, every single Australian GP in Melbourne has had at least 3 DNFs.
Sainz was joined by Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar, who triggered a delayed start to the race after crashing out on the formation lap at Albert Park. Hadjar lost control of his car on the exit of Turn 2 on the formation lap in Melbourne and crashed into the barrier.
Video later showed Lewis Hamilton’s dad, Anthony Hamilton, consoling the rookie after what must seem like the worst moment of his career.
If the 2025 season started like this, we can only imagine the drama yet to come. Check out the video below for the highlights of the weekend’s race.
