2025 Australian Grand Prix Race Rewind – How Lando Norris Won

The 2025 Australian Grand Prix proved to be one of the defining moments of the season, as Lando Norris delivered a controlled and confident drive to secure victory for McLaren at Albert Park. The race, which opened the 2025 Formula One World Championship, marked Norris’ first time leading the Drivers’ Championship and ended Max Verstappen’s long-standing hold at the top of the standings.



Norris crossed the line in a time of 1:42:06.304, finishing just 0.895 seconds ahead of Verstappen, with George Russell completing the podium for Mercedes. The win was McLaren’s first in Melbourne since Jenson Button triumphed in 2012, making it a landmark result for the team.







Final top ten classification:




Lando Norris, McLaren, 25 points



Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 18 points



George Russell, Mercedes, 15 points



Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, 12 points



Alexander Albon, Williams, 10 points



Lance Stroll, Aston Martin, 8 points



Nico Hülkenberg, Sauber, 6 points



Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 4 points



Oscar Piastri, McLaren, 2 points



Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, 1 point




Chaotic Start And Changing Conditions Defined The Race



The 2025 Australian Grand Prix began under difficult intermediate conditions, setting the tone for an unpredictable afternoon. The formation lap was abandoned after Isack Hadjar crashed his Racing Bulls car, causing a delay and reducing the race distance from 58 laps to 57.



Once underway, Norris controlled the opening phase, though the slippery surface left little margin for error. Verstappen briefly gained the lead after Norris and Oscar Piastri both lost grip, but Norris regained control following strategic pit timing and superior tyre management.



Key early race developments included:




Formation lap crash for Isack Hadjar



Aborted start and 10-minute delay



Reduced race distance



Constant tyre strategy adjustments




Norris Delivered A Championship-Defining Performance



Norris’ drive was remembered as one of the most mature and composed of his career. He led most of the race, responded calmly to Verstappen’s pressure, and managed the changing grip levels with precision. When Verstappen closed to within a second in the closing stages, Norris never panicked, placing his McLaren perfectly to deny any overtaking opportunity.



That performance set the tone for Norris’ title challenge in 2025 and confirmed McLaren as genuine championship contenders.



Key elements of Norris’ victory:




Led the majority of the race



Defended flawlessly under pressure



Executed perfect pit timing



Secured McLaren’s first Melbourne win in 13 years




Verstappen Applied Relentless Pressure



Verstappen finished second after pushing Norris to the limit in the closing laps. Although he came agonisingly close to forcing a mistake, Norris’ defensive precision left no opening. It was a rare race where Verstappen delivered maximum pressure but could not convert it into victory.



His result kept him firmly in championship contention while signalling that the 2025 season would be more competitive than previous campaigns.



Verstappen’s race highlights:




Strong pace in mixed conditions



Briefly led during the pit cycle



Finished less than one second behind



Set the benchmark for championship rivalry




Russell Secured Valuable Podium For Mercedes



George Russell drove a clean and disciplined race to finish third, staying clear of incidents and capitalising on others’ misfortune. While he lacked the pace to challenge the front two, his consistency ensured Mercedes opened the season with a solid podium.



Russell’s podium drive included:




Minimal mistakes



Strong tyre conservation



Stable race pace



Important points for Mercedes




Antonelli’s Charge From 16th To Fourth Stole Headlines



Kimi Antonelli produced one of the most impressive performances of the race, climbing from 16th on the grid to finish fourth. The Mercedes rookie demonstrated confidence, race awareness, and mature decision-making well beyond his experience.



His result made him the second-youngest points scorer in Formula One history and instantly established him as one of the standout talents of the 2025 season.



Antonelli’s breakthrough performance:




Gained 12 positions



Finished just outside the podium



Navigated chaos confidently



Delivered a historic points finish




Albon Delivered Williams’ Best Melbourne Result In Years



Alexander Albon secured fifth place for Williams, marking the team’s best result in Australia since 2021. His drive was built on consistency and avoiding trouble as faster cars around him faltered.



Albon’s achievement underlined Williams’ progress and gave the team early momentum.



Williams’ positives from the race:




Fifth-place finish



Strong race management



Improved competitiveness



Boost to constructors’ standings




Ferrari Endured A Difficult Season Opener



Ferrari’s race proved challenging, with Charles Leclerc finishing eighth and Lewis Hamilton tenth in his first Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver after leaving Mercedes. While both drivers scored points, the team struggled to match the front-running pace.



Hamilton’s debut was defined by traffic and limited overtaking opportunities, preventing him from showing his full potential.



Ferrari takeaways:




Leclerc finished eighth



Hamilton finished tenth



Missed podium contention



Collected modest points




Multiple Retirements Shaped The Final Order



Six drivers failed to finish the race due to accidents, bringing out three safety car periods and reshuffling the running order.



Drivers who retired included:




Isack Hadjar



Jack Doohan



Carlos Sainz Jr.



Fernando Alonso



Gabriel Bortoleto



Liam Lawson




These incidents opened the door for midfield teams to score valuable points.



Piastri Recovered Strongly After Early Setback



Oscar Piastri briefly lost control and became stuck, dropping deep into the field. However, he recovered superbly, climbing back to ninth place and passing Lewis Hamilton late in the race to score points in front of his home crowd.



Piastri’s recovery featured:




Escape from the gravel



Aggressive overtaking



Late pass for position



Two valuable championship points




Legacy Of The 2025 Australian Grand Prix



Looking back from the pre-season of 2026, the Australian Grand Prix stood as one of the defining races of the 2025 season. It marked Norris’ arrival as a genuine title contender, re-established McLaren as a winning force, and signalled a shift in the competitive balance of Formula One.







Long-term significance of the race:




Norris led the championship for the first time



Verstappen’s dominance faced new resistance



McLaren confirmed as title contenders



Antonelli announced himself as a future star

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