Norris Wins Australia GP to Open 2025 F1 Season at P1 in GFT Rankings

16 March 2025
By Bob Francis, Managing Editor
Go Full Throttle Racing News

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — Lando Norris (McLaren F1) picks up where he left off at the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, with an impressive qualifying run to earn pole and the win on the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne. Norris led 54 of the 57 laps and held off F1 Champion Max Verstappen the entire day. Verstappen qualified 3rd and overtook McLaren’s Oscar Piastri on Lap 1, but never touched Norris.

Go Full Throttle F1 AI Driver Rankings following the Australia GP on March 16, 2025 at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne (Image Credit: GFT Digital)

Lando Norris post-race interview:

“It was amazing, a top race, especially with Max behind me. I was pushing, especially the last two laps — it was a little bit stressful, not going to lie.

“Tricky conditions, but there are the ones that are enjoyable and we ended up on top so I’m happy.

“We got it wrong a lot last year so I guess we learned from our mistakes — we lost out in Silverstone and Canada in similar conditions. Dealing with the pressure, dealing with Max, with Oscar behind me. I was pushing the whole way through.

“A challenging race but for McLaren I need to give thanks as they have given me a brilliant car.”

Lando Norris (McLaren) held off F1 World Champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) to win the Australia GP in Melbourne on Sunday March 16, 2025 (Image Credit: formula1.com)

Post-race comments from 2nd place finisher Max Verstappen

“It was a difficult race, but at the end it was fun. Lando had a little moment in Turn 6 which is why I got close. It was fun, pushing, fighting for the win but I’m just happy to bring it home, score good points and this is a good start for us.

“[When] I stayed out, the first lap was alright but the weather continued. At the end of the day if we had boxed one lap earlier, we would have been P2 anyway so it was worth a gamble. It was quite spicy on the slick tyres.

“This is where I expected to be, it is 18 points more than I had here last year, so I’ll take that.”

Race Summary:

• Pole-sitter Norris wins for McLaren in a wet-dry race
• Max Verstappen is second, George Russell third
• Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar spins on the formation lap and into retirement, delaying the start
• Jack Doohan and Carlos Sainz both crashed out on the first lap of the race
• Fernando Alonso, Gabriel Bortoleto and Liam Lawson all crash out in the race

AUSTRALIA GP FINAL RESULTS

Up Next: CHINA GP

The China GP is up next, and it is a Sprint format weekend in Shanghai.