Lando Norris claimed victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after an eventful and dramatic race at Albert Park. The McLaren driver secured his fifth career win, fending off a strong challenge from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who finished second. Mercedes’ George Russell completed the podium in third, while Alex Albon delivered an impressive drive to secure fourth for Williams.
The race began under challenging conditions, with wet weather causing issues for several drivers. The start was delayed after rookie Isack Hadjar crashed out on the formation lap, preventing him from taking part. Once underway, Norris managed to keep Verstappen at bay at the start, while his teammate Oscar Piastri lost a position to the Dutchman. The opening laps were chaotic, with Australian driver Jack Doohan crashing out at Turn 5, triggering an early safety car. Soon after, Carlos Sainz also exited the race, spinning into the barriers under the safety car due to a mechanical issue.
On the restart, Norris maintained his lead ahead of Verstappen, with Russell running in fourth and Lewis Hamilton holding eighth. As the track dried, Piastri found more pace and capitalized on a Verstappen mistake to reclaim second place. Norris extended his advantage, enjoying superior grip and pace as Verstappen struggled. By lap 24, Norris had built a comfortable lead of over two seconds on Piastri and more than 20 seconds on Russell in fourth.
The McLaren drivers appeared to be in control, but with the track conditions fluctuating, team strategy became crucial. Piastri, who was catching Norris, was initially instructed to hold position, much to the disappointment of his home crowd. However, he was later given the green light to race, just as a crash from Fernando Alonso on lap 33 brought out another safety car. The incident prompted most of the field to switch to dry tires, setting up an unpredictable closing stage.
Shortly after the restart, the weather took another turn as heavy rain returned. Despite their earlier deliberations, McLaren was caught out by the changing conditions. Both Norris and Piastri struggled, with Norris running wide and Piastri spinning off completely. Though Norris managed to recover and make it to the pits, Verstappen briefly inherited the lead. Red Bull, along with Hamilton, attempted to stay out on dry tires, but the worsening rain forced them into the pits soon after.
Further incidents unfolded as Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto went off the track, necessitating another safety car. Once the field settled, Norris and Verstappen resumed their positions at the front for a tense final battle. With five laps remaining, Norris led with Verstappen close behind, attempting to use DRS to mount an attack. Despite the pressure, Norris held firm, crossing the line less than a second ahead of Verstappen.
Russell completed the podium in third, followed by Albon in fourth and rookie Kimi Antonelli making an impressive recovery to finish fifth after starting 16th. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll secured sixth, with Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg in seventh. Charles Leclerc took eighth for Ferrari, while Piastri salvaged ninth after his late misfortune. Hamilton rounded out the top ten in his first race for Ferrari.
Norris’ victory marked McLaren’s first win in Melbourne since 2012, signaling their strong early-season form. With an unpredictable and competitive field, the championship battle appears set for an exciting season ahead.
