Kicking off the season with a chaotic start. Rookies catapult around the track, some hanging on and others crashing out within moments. The Australian Grand Prix brought surprising drivers into the limelight and delivered some soul-crushing moments.
A Thrilling Start to The 2025 Season
The first Grand Prix of 2025 had various weather changes, from beautiful sunshine in the practice and qualifying sessions. But the race had treacherous rain, ending several drivers’ races and tyres slipping and sliding across white lines, punishing the risk-taking drivers.
McLaren drivers took the top two positions, with Lando Norris in pole. The sea of orange supporters roared in delight as they took their starting places. The beginning was a fierce battle between McLaren driver Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, the fourth-time World Champion for Redbull. Piastri fans whooped with monstrous volume, supporting the home-race favourite.
Soon came several safety car laps after rookies Isak Hadjar (RB), Jack Doohan (Alpine), Gabriel Bortoletto (Kick Sauber), and Liam Lawson (Redbull) crashed out, leaving a path of debris. Carlos Sainz (Williams) and legendary experienced driver Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) also crashed out due to the thrashing rain hammering across the track.
A total of 6 drivers ended their race too soon and ended the grid in DNFs.
The race got back on track, and Norris continued his lead until the vicious rain attacked the Mclaren cars, making them swerve, and the home favourite skidded onto the grass.
The willpower of the fans forced Piastri’s car to regain track position, but he fell down the pecking order. With six cars out, the beginning order changed dramatically, a couple of the gainers from these crashes were Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Alex Albon (Williams) and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) all going from the lower numbers up to 4th, 5th and 6th. Scoring important points for their teams, and, in particular, Kimi showed his talent for a young 18-year-old and one of the only rookies who managed to keep his car on the track and in the points.
After Piastri’s disastrous incident, it was up to Norris to defend the McLaren Constructors Championship and ensure the team started the season with a win. Norris deterred Verstappen and George Russel (Mercedes), who were hot on his tail. Piastri tumbled down the order, eventually holding on tight to a 9th-place finish, saddened in front of his home race.
It was a disappointing start for Ferrari, with big signings Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as a strong driver lineup. Ferrari struggled with tyre control and strategies, a similar sight to previous years. As a die-hard Hamilton fan, I’m saddened by the lack of ‘Hammertime’ that will be said this season.
Norris clinched victory with Verstappen hot on his heels and Russel in third, Norris gaining a maximum of 25 points.
However, McLaren and Mercedes are sitting equal in the championship table at 27 points. Alex Albon held on to his fifth position and secured William’s first points of the season, a tremendous effort from the underdogs in blue. Kick Sauber kicked off the first grand prix with nearly double the amount of points they scored from the collection of races in 2024, Nico Hulkenberg clinched 6 points putting this supposed-irrelevant team back into play. A lacklustre start for Haas, Racing Bulls and Alpine, not achieving a single point for their teams.
My anticipation for this year’s F1 season is that we are going to have a tight battle for pole positions and exciting midfield battles. Drivers desperately scrape to gain a point, and rookies are determined to prove their worth.
Onto the next race in China!
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