Lando Norris clinches triumph in thrilling inaugural Formula 1 race of the season, overshadowing Lewis Hamilton's underwhelming Ferrari debut.
In the opening race of the 2025 Formula One season Down Under, Lando Norris snatched a nail-biting victory, outsmarting four-time champion Max Verstappen in a track battle for the ages.
Setting the stage on Sunday, Norris claimed pole position for McLaren, which dominated the qualifying session. Teammate Oscar Piastri lined up beside him on the front row, and while McLaren shined, Norris knew the menacing presence of Verstappen on the grid couldn't be ignored.
With adverse conditions and a persistent Verstappen hot on his heels, Norris faced a relentless race. Safety cars and later a torrential downpour kept both drivers on their toes, but Norris refuses to lie - the final laps were undoubtedly nerve-wracking as he fended off Verstappen by an agonizing 0.895 seconds.
The elated 25-year-old addressing the broadcast after his triumph: "It was amazing. A tough race, especially with Max behind me. It was, especially the last two laps, a little bit stressful, I'm not gonna lie, but an amazing way to start the year."
Mercedes' George Russell claimed third spot, with 19-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli sprinting to fourth. Antonelli initially received a time penalty, but it was later overturned.
The day felt underwhelming for Lewis Hamilton, who struggled mightily in his debut race for Ferrari, salvaging a disappointing tenth-place finish. Hamilton, who swapped the legend-status Mercedes team for Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season, seeks rapid improvements if he hopes to add an eighth drivers' world championship to his tally and help Ferrari reclaim their 2007 crown.
After a difficult race, Hamilton expressed his honest frustration to Sky Sports, calling the experience "very tricky" and confessing the car was "really, really hard to drive today."
As the F1 season swiftly moves on, we can expect Hamilton and Ferrari to be determined to avert a recurrence of such dismal performance. Geared up for the next race in China, the event takes place on March 23.
In the 2025 Formula One season, Lando Norris's victory in the opening race Down Under marked a thrilling motorsport spectacle against Max Verstappen, with Norris's McLaren teamnormally dominating the qualifying stages. Amid adverse conditions and Verstappen's persistent chase, the race was a test of nerves for Norris, who ultimately edged out Verstappen by a mere 0.895 seconds. In contrast, Lewis Hamilton, now racing for Ferrari, had a less auspicious debut, ending in a disappointing tenth-place finish and expressing his frustrations about the car's handling during the race.
