Here is what we thought after the primary race of the season…
McLaren is certainly sturdy
Though the successful margin wasn’t that huge, there’s an overriding feeling after Australia that on a dry observe the papaya vehicles would have disappeared into the gap.
For now, the conclusion that McLaren would be the staff to beat in 2025 nonetheless stands. Nevertheless, to place the favorite tag on Lando Norris and his staff, we’ll have to attend for the primary ‘regular’ race… This Sunday in Melbourne was just too loopy.
– Oleg Karpov
By no means write off Verstappen, even when he does it himself
Max Verstappen was clear earlier than he left for Australia: “In the mean time just one [team can win], and that staff is orange!” Even earlier than qualifying, he did not assume Purple Bull could be able to problem for the rostrum, not to mention victory. With Helmut Marko predicting a second row was doable, Verstappen feared Purple Bull wouldn’t even make Q3.
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Picture by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Pictures
P3 on the grid might have price his father a guess in opposition to Marko, however extra importantly, it confirmed that with Verstappen, Purple Bull is able to struggle. That was much more the case within the Australian rain. Verstappen as soon as once more confirmed his talents within the moist, pushing Norris till the final lap.
– Ronald Vording
Williams’ tempo is actual
Williams has been one of many greatest surprises of winter testing. James Vowles insists in each interview that his staff’s focus is on 2026 and past, however the staff is able to seize some huge outcomes this 12 months. Carlos Sainz crashed out early within the Australian Grand Prix, however Alexander Albon saved the day for the Grove-based staff – and much more so!
At each the Bahrain take a look at and the Melbourne qualifying session, Williams confirmed its true tempo within the dry after which added a powerful efficiency within the moist. Albon’s fourth place at Albert Park is already an enormous outcome within the constructors’ championship and this primary race has made it very clear: there’s extra to return from Williams this season.
– Ronald Vording
Expertise continues to be wanted
It wasn’t the best weekend for the rookies, and whereas the F1 2025 newcomers are all extraordinarily gifted, expertise was positively wanted on a wet Sunday afternoon in Melbourne. Isack Hadjar crashed on the formation lap, Jack Doohan simply seconds after the beginning, and Gabriel Bortoleto could not maintain his automotive out of the partitions in the long run. It wasn’t a straightforward weekend for Oliver Bearman both, as he bumped into bother as early as Friday. Liam Lawson, who can also be beginning his first full season in F1, could not put collectively a great lap in qualifying and ended up crashing into the wall within the race.
Jack Doohan, Alpine crash
Picture by: James Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
Do not decide them too harshly simply but, although. Melbourne is a difficult observe to start out a brand new season on as a rookie, particularly with the rain on Sunday. The errors made by the likes of Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso present that it wasn’t simple for anybody. However for some drivers, equivalent to Doohan and Lawson, the stress will likely be even higher any more…
– Oleg Karpov
Antonelli reveals why he is the true deal
Appears to be like like he realized the correct classes from his peculiar and temporary look at Monza final 12 months: Andrea Kimi Antonelli makes his Method 1 debut in Melbourne, ending a powerful fourth! He misplaced a place in a while as a consequence of an unsafe launch by his staff, however that does not take away from the 18-year-old’s spectacular debut.
Of the six rookies (together with Lawson and Bearman), solely two completed the race – and Antonelli was the one one to attain factors. This reveals why Toto Wolff thinks so extremely of him: sure, Antonelli spun within the difficult situations, however apart from that, he did not put a foot incorrect and stayed out of the chaos in a really difficult Grand Prix – a extremely sturdy first efficiency!
Pictures from Australian GP – Race
– Frederik Hackbarth
On this article
Motorsport.com employees writers
Method 1
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