{"id":272859,"date":"2025-04-03T06:56:28","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T06:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/03\/australian-grand-prix-f1-mclarens-norris-starts-world-championship-bid-with-win-in-melbourne-verstappen-russell-get-podium-finish\/"},"modified":"2025-04-03T06:56:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T06:56:28","slug":"australian-grand-prix-f1-mclarens-norris-starts-world-championship-bid-with-win-in-melbourne-verstappen-russell-get-podium-finish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/03\/australian-grand-prix-f1-mclarens-norris-starts-world-championship-bid-with-win-in-melbourne-verstappen-russell-get-podium-finish\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Grand Prix, F1: McLaren\u2019s Norris starts world championship bid with win in Melbourne; Verstappen, Russell get podium finish"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Australian<\/div>


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Lando Norris led McLaren from pole position and finished ahead of arch-rival and defending world champion Red Bull Racing\u2019s Max Verstappen to win the inaugural race \u2014 Australian Grand Prix \u2014 of the Formula One Championship 2025 at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne on Sunday.<\/p>\n

In a rain-affected race where McLaren started with 1-2 after Norris and Oscar Piastri finished in the top two in qualifying, Verstappen finished second while Mercedes\u2019 George Russell was third.<\/p>\n

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Williams too had a phenomenal start to the season as Alexander Albon finished fourth while rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes got himself a creditable fifth-place finish. 18-year-old Antonelli was demoted to fifth due to a five-second penalty for an unsafe release from the pit.<\/p>\n

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It was a disastrous end for homeboy Piastri, who was gunning for a podium finish throughout the race but a steering lock-up pushed the Australian off the track. He finished ninth.<\/p>\n

This is McLaren\u2019s 11th Australian Grand Prix win. Norris, the pre-season favourite for the drivers\u2019 title, started the Formula One season as he finished the last at Abu Dhabi, with victory from pole.<\/span><\/p>\n

The win ended Verstappen\u2019s long run at the top of the championship standings dating back to May 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n

Norris\u2019s teammate Oscar Piastri started second on the grid but finished ninth<\/span>, his<\/span> dreams of becoming the first home driver to claim victory or a consolation podium ending with a skid into the grass.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Norris, who claimed his first win in Melbourne and the fifth of his career, said it had been a <\/span>difficult<\/span> race with Verstappen breathing down his neck.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The moment @LandoNorris<\/a> crossed the line to win in Australia! \ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfa\ud83d\udc40#F1<\/a> #AusGP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/YGuL05IMki<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Formula 1 (@F1) March 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cIt was amazing<\/span>. <\/span>Tough<\/span> race, especially with Max behind me. I was pushing, especially in the last two laps. It was a little bit stressful, not going to lie. This time we got it right and ended on top so I\u2019m happy,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton\u2019s debut for Ferrari proved a damp squib <\/span>with<\/span> the Briton finishing 10th, two places behind teammate Charles Leclerc.<\/span><\/p>\n

SAFETY CARS<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

The race <\/span>was held <\/span>up<\/span> for 15 minutes after debutant Isack Hadjar lost control in the formation lap at turn two and rear-ended his Racing Bulls car into a wall.<\/span><\/p>\n

With his rear wing bent out of shape and his race over before it began, the unharmed Frenchman was in tears as his car was hauled away by a crane.<\/span><\/p>\n

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While Norris had a clean start, Piastri was skidding left and right at the first turn, allowing Verstappen to roar past him on the outside.<\/span><\/p>\n

Australian rookie Jack Doohan was gone soon after the restart, crashing his Alpine at turn six on the first lap to trigger the safety car as his father <\/span>Mick<\/span>, the motorcycling great, looked on in disbelief from the team garage.<\/span><\/p>\n

The drama continued as Williams driver Carlos Sainz spun out of control at turn 14 during the safety car\u2019s deployment.<\/span><\/p>\n

When <\/span>the track was cleared<\/span> of danger<\/span>, Norris held Verstappen at bay<\/span> as Piastri nipped at the Dutchman\u2019s heels.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The front three\u2019s order held until lap 16 when Verstappen locked a front brake and veered wide to allow Piastri to snatch back second.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"McLaren's McLaren\u2019s Lando Norris win Australian Grand Prix. (Photo: AP)<\/span><\/p>\n

Piastri, with more pace than his teammate, had Norris in his sights but was ordered to hold position by the McLaren garage until a rain shower passed and the track dried.<\/span><\/p>\n

Twice world champion Fernando Alonso became the fourth car knocked out when he veered off track at turn seven on lap 34 and crashed, bringing out the safety car again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Norris and Piastri pitted to change to hard <\/span>tyres<\/span> but<\/span> another rain shower wreaked havoc 10 laps later, as Piastri skidded into gravel then ended up in the grass.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He managed to reverse out and re-enter the track <\/span>but<\/span> his race was <\/span>effectively<\/span> over.<\/span><\/p>\n

Red Bull\u2019s Liam Lawson and Sauber\u2019s Gabriel Bortoleto then crashed out <\/span>in quick succession<\/span>, triggering a third safety car deployment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though that gave Verstappen a last crack at reeling in Norris, the Briton showed great composure to hold the relentless Dutchman at bay and land the first blow in the championship ahead of round two in China.<\/span><\/p>\n

(With inputs from Reuters)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n