was in a state of shock as an unlikely victory on debut for slipped via his fingers on the season-opening .
As with the sphere, Ferrari opted to maintain Hamilton out whereas many of the frontrunners pitted.
A subsequent security automobile, with then-leader Hamilton being held up in gradual site visitors earlier than ultimately pitting for intermediate moist tyres, meant the Brit dropped in the direction of the again of the pack. The 40-year-old in the end completed tenth, taking only one level from an underwhelming weekend.
Hamilton swore over workforce radio when he was advised of his new place – ninth – and advised race engineer Riccardo Adami: “We missed a giant alternative.”
, who began on pole, ended up in treacherous circumstances at Albert Park, with Max Verstappen in second and George Russell in third.
Hamilton and teammate nearly collided on the finish of the race, however the Monegasque completed in eighth.
The Briton, who began the race in eighth, additionally bought overtaken by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri on the final lap, to cap off a torrid ultimate 15 laps.
“It was very tough,” Hamilton advised Sky Sports activities afterwards.
“It went loads worse than I assumed it could go, the automobile was actually onerous to drive immediately. I’m grateful I stored it out of the wall, that’s the place it wished to go more often than not.
“Lots to take [in], totally different energy unit within the moist, totally different driving and setup on the steering wheel. And the steering of how way more rain was coming… we missed out.
“The data I bought was that it was a brief bathe, and actual fast, and it was simply the final nook. However then extra got here.”
Norris survived a rain bathe and late cost from to open his season in fashion by successful a wild, wacky and thrilling race wherein six automobiles retired after a sequence of crashes.
With 13 laps remaining, each Norris and , who was working behind his McLaren team-mate in second place, ran off the street and thru the gravel in slippery circumstances.
Norris was in a position to dive into the pits to maneuver again on the intermediate tyres and salvage victory, however Piastri ended up within the grass on the penultimate nook, scuppering McLaren’s dream of a one-two. He would cross the road in ninth.
Norris took the chequered flag simply 0.8 seconds away from world champion Verstappen, with George Russell third for Mercedes.
“It was a tricky, powerful race, particularly with Max behind me,” Norris stated. “I used to be pushing. It was, particularly the final two laps, a bit of bit disturbing, I am not going to lie.
“However wonderful method to begin the yr, a tricky one, as a result of, you understand, we went off and we made some massive errors.
“I went via the gravel, loads of the harm, simply tough circumstances. However these are those which might be fulfilling and enjoyable and unpredictable.
“We bought it fallacious loads final yr, so I suppose we discovered from our errors. You realize, we misplaced out on Silverstone and Canada via a race like this.
“So we have discovered from our errors.”
Alex Albon completed a terrific fourth for Williams whereas Russell’s teammate, 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, completed a formidable fifth on his F1 debut.
The second race of the 2025 season is the Chinese language Grand Prix subsequent week in Shanghai.
