What a race. What a way to open the season. McLaren dominated, although the reigning Constructors’ Champions may already be showing a few cracks that hampered them in 2024.
There were also six rookies (sort of) to talk about and a certain Canadian driver who delivered once again to very little fanfare.
McLaren start off perfectly but strategy cracks still showing
For the first time since 2012, McLaren have won the opening race of the season.
It should’ve been their first 1-2 to start a season since 1998, but a piece of grass and some water on the track had other ideas.
However, you already have to question what is going on in the strategy room.
Fresh off a 2024 that raised many questions about how they dealt with team orders, and also after both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were quizzed about the so called implementation of ‘Papaya Rules’ all weekend, the team decided to make both drivers hold station during the crucial middle parts of the race.
This came after Piastri closed right up on Norris and looked set to challenge him for the win, while the threat of rain lingered over head.
Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren F1 Team. (Photo by Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images)
Why on earth should there be any form of orders being put into place in the very first race of the season?
If Piastri was fast enough to pass Norris, he should’ve been allowed to challenge him. Both drivers are capable of racing hard while keeping it on the track, and it would’ve provided an entertaining battle to set up a tense battle in 2025.
It remains to be seen if the team is going to stick to their belief that ‘Papaya Rules’ is a thing of the past or if we’re about to see it happen again this year.
Australian curse continues
There have been 39 Australian Grands Prix as part of the World Formula One Championship since 1985 with zero (legal) podiums for an Australian driver.
It looked like the curse might be broken.
But on lap 44, every single Australian F1 fan felt a dose of déjà vu, as Piastri found his way in the grass and ended any hope of an Aussie podium.
Asked about what Australia has to do over the next 12 months in order to help break the curse at Albert Park, a disappointed Piastri told The Roar that some extra gardening could occur at the circuit.
“If they could mow the grass about a couple of inches shorter that might help,” he said. “I think it’s obviously a shame with how it went today. I felt like the crowd deserved to have a podium so it obviously hurts at the moment that I can’t be up there.
Despite the disappointment, Piastri remained upbeat that the curse could be broken next year.
“If we’ve got a car like we had today in the future, hopefully we don’t have to wait too much more.”
Mark Webber’s fourth in 2012 and Dan Ricciardo’s fourth in 2016 & 2018 remain the best finish for an Australian at the Australian Grand Prix.
Not quite a red letter debut for Hamilton at Ferrari
For all the hype around Lewis Hamilton for his Ferrari debut, the seven-time World Champion left disappointed.
At no point across the weekend did Hamilton look likely to crack the top three, and in the end he only left Australia with a solitary point, his worst-ever finish at the Australian Grand Prix.
Facing the question several times across the four days in Melbourne, Hamilton was always buoyant about the entire experience at Ferrari, and how it had been like nothing he had ever experienced before.
Even seeing just how the fans and media were around him was also different, with just the aura of Ferrari and the aura of Hamilton coming together in a way that felt right.
Six rookies, six different stories at Albert Park
A year ago in Australia there was not a single rookie racing around Albert Park. This time around there were six in this particular race all of them experienced something different.
Oliver Bearman found himself out of two practice sessions and starting from the pit lane for the race. He was one of only two rookies to finish.
The other was Kimi Antonelli, who found himself in an impressive fourth place, giving him the best F1 debut since Kevin Magnussen finished second at the Australian Grand Prix in 2014.
It was a strong recovery by the Italian who had qualified at the back of the grid and struggled for most of the weekend to be on the pace compared to his teammate George Russell.
Perhaps the most intriguing rookie of the weekend was Aussie Jack Doohan. Having had his season written off before it began and many expecting him to be dropped at some point this year, he performed solidlyand was very unlucky not to make Q3. Aspin and crash in the race put that effort to bed
Isack Hadjar also impressed but embarrassingly crashed out on turn one of the formation lap.
He was in tears and was consoled by Lewis Hamilton’s father as he tried to hide his disappointment.
Gabriel Bortoletto was on a similar page to both Doohan and Hadjar. Strong performances all weekend before a disappointing crash in the race.
Kiwi Liam Lawson, the most experienced rookie of them all, had a nightmare weekend, off the pace of teammate Max Verstappen, out of qualifying in Q1 and in the wall during the race.
A certain Mexican driver might be watching from afar wondering why Lawson was seen as an improvement for 2025, but Lawson has many more opportunities to come to show why that was the case.
Round 1 F1 team power rankings:
5. Ferrari
Where did the pace go? A team that looked likely to be challenging for the win in Albert Park looked nowhere near it. Considering a year ago they went 1-2 at Albert Park, it’s a big drop off.
4. Racing Bulls
The biggest surprise, Racing Bulls looked great across the weekend and were unlucky not to leave with a healthy dose of points. Yuki Tsunoda was on form and his sensational fifth on the grid was perhaps the highlight of the weekend.
3. Mercedes
George Russell had a bit of an invisible weekend but was always near or in the top five, and third in the race was a good return for him. Kimi Antonelli found his footing as the weekend progressed, and fourth was a great result on debut. Right now look likely to be the main team to challenge McLaren.
2. Williams
For a team to go from where they were in 2024 to where they are now is a big leap, especially given they were nipping on the heels of the top four. Alex Albon kept his head after a great qualifying to finish fifth, while Carlos Sainz would’ve easily been up there too had he not found himself in the wall early on in the race. Some great signs for the Grove team.
1. McLaren
Dominated the weekend and unlucky not to get their first 1-2 at Albert Park since 1998. Still some questionable strategy decisions going on at the team, but it’s early days, with plenty more opportunities to fix them.
Round 1 F1 driver power rankings:
Verstappen showcases skill again as top ten filled with surprises
5. Yuki Tsunoda
It’s hard to see how he left without any points given how well he raced. An amazing qualifying performance mixed with strong driving in every session, he showed once again that Red Bull are crazy not to have considered him more for that second seat alongside Verstappen.
4. Oscar Piastri
One key moment aside, Oscar had an amazing weekend. Sadly, for him (and for every Australian F1 fan), that key moment cost him a podium and possible win, adding more pain to the local fans who are dying to see an Aussie on the podium at Albert Park.
3. George Russell
Solidly in the top five for most of the weekend, George drove an unspectacular race but scored a podium due to being so solid and keeping out of danger. If Ferrari continue to be behind, he’ll be in a good position to challenge the McLaren drivers in the future when further incidents happen.
2. Max Verstappen
Once again proves why he is the best driver in the field by bringing home a car that isn’t in the top three to a near victory. Kept the top three interesting at the start when he got ahead of Piastri, before pushing hard against Norris in the closing laps to give him a bit of a scare. If he keeps this up, he’ll easily be challenging for title number five this season.
1. Lando Norris
Remember a year ago when a fan shouted at him in Melbourne about not winning a race and he flipped them off? Well, look at him now. Five career wins, his first in Australia and first in the opening race, and starts the season in the best possible way. Lando No Wins is a long distant memory now.