Rain chaos in Australia at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season

Qualifying in Melbourne already made one thing clear: McLaren, which finished 2024 as the strongest Formula 1 team, is once again dominating the start of the 2025 season. Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri started the race from positions 1 and 2, followed by Max Verstappen in a Red Bull. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the Williams team, which had had no chance in recent years, starting the race from positions 6 with Alexander Albon and 10 with ex-Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz. Unfortunately, the rain did not bode well, and it did not last. On the very first lap, rookie Isack Hadjar in a Racing Bulls slid into the barrier. Red Bull Racing was stopped and restarted. The start was scheduled for a second time 15 minutes later. No sooner had the race started than Max Verstappen grabbed Oscar Piastri to chase down the leading Lando Norris. The second rookie, Jack Doohan in an Alpine, is already there with a broken rear wing; he had lost control of the car in the rain and crashed into the wall. Fantastic! A blink of an eye later, Carlos Sainz in a Williams car crashes into the barrier on the final corner. It's as if everyone is driving on soft soap. Safety car period. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc has worked his way up from 7th to 5th. The track seems to be drying out again and the tire poker game has begun. Rookie Kimi Antonelli in a Mercedes bravely fights his way to the front and also catches the Aston Martin drivers Stroll and Alonso. Respect! Everyone is fighting for the right tire strategy. When to change to which tire? While Norris and Piastri are engaged in a fierce battle at the front, which is ended thanks to a team order, veteran Fernando Alonso crashes into the wall after more than an hour. Another safety car! It all starts again on lap 42 of 57. In the final sector, the McLarens fly through the run-off area. Oscar Piastri lands on the grass. Although he fights back, he loses a lot of time. His second place is history. The teams are constantly gambling with their tire choice: stick with slicks, intermediates, or get rain grooves? It's an endless back and forth. Rookies Liam Lawson in a Red Bull and Gabriel Bortoleto in a Kick Sauber are eliminated! And another safety car! Six drivers have now retired. Lando Norris is currently leading ahead of Max Verstappen and George Russell in a Mercedes, followed by Albon in a Williams. Oscar Piastri finds himself in second to last place. All teams have switched to intermediates. The restart takes place on lap 52. A major exchange of blows ensues between Verstappen and Norris. No, the Dutchman tries everything, but Norris is able to hold on to the lead to the finish and wins the first Grand Prix of the season.