The first race of the 2025 F1 season is upon us as Australia returns to host the season-opening grand prix for the first time in six years.
All eyes will be on Lewis Hamilton as he makes his debut in the famous Ferrari red this weekend following a stunning reception from fans worldwide to his move from Mercedes.
Max Verstappen claimed his fourth straight world championship in 2024 but McLaren’s Lando Norris is the favourite this year, with the papaya expected to have the quickest car. Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri competes at his home race this weekend.
Last year at the tricky Albert Park street circuit in Melbourne, Carlos Sainz claimed a famous win as he led home a Ferrari one-two ahead of Charles Leclerc. Who will be victorious this Sunday?
Follow all the latest F1 news with The Independent as we count down to the Australian Grand Prix
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F1 AUSTRALIAN GP - LATEST UPDATES
- F1 returns this weekend with the Australian GP kicking off the 2025 season
- Practice two started at 5am (GMT); Lando Norris quickest in FP1
- Ollie Bearman sustained heavy crash in FP1
- Lando Norris starts campaign as favourite for world title but played down McLaren's tag of 'favourites'
- ANALYSIS: Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari F1 are a ‘perfect match’ – but will results live up to the hype?
Both Racing Bulls ahead of Red Bull!
05:55
,
Kieran Jackson
With Tsunoda in fourth and Hadjar in sixth, both drivers of the sister team are ahead of Max Verstappen (7th) and Liam Lawson (17th).
Not something you often see! A lot of drivers on medium tyres now as practice concludes here...
Bearman unlikely to make it out
05:51
,
Kieran Jackson
Not looking good for Bearman with 10 minutes to go - his car is still up on the stand in the garage.
No track time in this session for the 19-year-old looks likely now...
McLaren boss Zak Brown, speaking to Sky Sports:
05:48
,
Kieran Jackson
“Car looks strong, they’re comfortable - so far, so good.
“Everyone is still learning about their cars, we need to get it be a bit more complaint, need to optimise it. One step a time, we’re happy.”
Charles Leclerc goes P1!
05:39
,
Kieran Jackson
A statement from the Ferrari driver!
He goes P1, 0.141 seconds quicker than Norris - who drops to third as Oscar Piastri squeezes into second.
Lewis Hamilton is now fifth-fastest, four-tenths off his teammate in first.
Lance Stroll goes off track!
05:35
,
Kieran Jackson
The Aston Martin goes off track at turn 1, but simply goes across the grass and rejoins!
Stroll is currently P7.
Incidentally, Bearman still not out on track with 25 minutes left...
Lando Norris goes fastest!
05:33
,
Kieran Jackson
The McLaren driver is dialled in today!
The Briton goes quickest with a 1:16:580, two-tenths quicker than Yuki Tsunoda.
3-10: Leclerc, Piastri, Hamilton, Stroll, Russell, Sainz, Alonso, Verstappen
Max Verstapen unstable!
05:30
,
Kieran Jackson
Verstappen on a push lap backs out after turn 3 after struggling to control the car.
Concerned faces on the Red Bull pit wall...
Yuki Tsunoda goes P1!
05:28
,
Kieran Jackson
A rapid time from the Japanese driver!
On the soft tyres, he goes top of the tree by 0.010 seconds to Charles Leclerc!
An early statement from the Racing Bulls driver...
HAAS UPDATE:
05:22
,
Kieran Jackson
Bearman and his team are “planning to make it out during FP2.”
Charles Leclerc goes fastest!
05:21
,
Kieran Jackson
The Monegasque goes above old teammate Carlos Sainz, while Lewis Hamilton makes it a Ferrari one-two with a time four-tenths off his teammate.
Twenty minutes gone, the top-10 is:
Leclerc, Hamilton, Sainz, Russell, Norris, Piastri, Albon, Tsunoda, Hadjar, Doohan
Carlos Sainz fastest by two-tenths!
05:11
,
Kieran Jackson
That Williams is on rails!
Rapid in testing, rapid in FP1... and now rapid in FP2!
The Spaniard looking quick! However, let’s see in qualifying tomorrow...
Lewis Hamilton sixth-fastest
05:10
,
Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton looked quick in the first two sectors of his push lap, but lost time in the final sector!
Among the guests in the Ferrari garage watching Hamilton is singer RAYE, who is performing here at Albert Park this weekend.
Norris is the quickest once again so far...
FP2 underway!
05:03
,
Kieran Jackson
Second practice is underway at Albert Park!
Lando Norris having to go on the grass on the pit-exit to squeeze past the Red Bull of Liam Lawson!
Ollie Bearman's Haas update!
05:01
,
Kieran Jackson
Bearman’s car is still being fixed in the Haas garage!
A new engine, gearbox and rear corners! Not ideal for the 19-year-old on his first full-time day in F1... it remains to be seen whether Bearman will[ feature in FP2!
FP2 5 minutes away!
04:55
,
Kieran Jackson
A fascinating first practice session this morning - what will the second practice bring?
It all gets going in beautiful Melbourne sunshine in five minutes!
Toto Wolff repsonds to Verstappen links
04:45
,
Kieran Jackson
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has claimed Max Verstappen is no longer on his radar and said he is ready to open talks with George Russell over a contract extension.
Wolff attempted to lure Verstappen to Mercedes as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton last year before the four-time world champion elected to stay at Red Bull.
Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli was instead promoted from the team's junior ranks alongside Russell for the new season which starts in Australia on Sunday.
Russell, 27, is entering his fourth season with Mercedes but his current deal is due to expire at the end of the year, leaving room for Wolff to make a play for Verstappen.
However, speaking in Melbourne ahead of Sunday's curtain-raiser, Wolff said: "We need to concentrate on our driver line-up.”
Ollie Bearman: ‘You only get one shot in F1 – my ultimate goal is to be a world champion’
04:28
,
Kieran Jackson
As foolish as it sounds, Ollie Bearman’s manager was actually cut off from the call which changed the life of his most precious client. Fortunately, the British teenager himself was not short of credit on his phone.
Ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last March, Ferrari suddenly needed a driver after Carlos Sainz fell ill. Relaxing idyllically off the shores of the Red Sea fresh from securing pole position in F2, 18-year-old Bearman spotted Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur’s name on his phone and, right then, knew he was about to be given the opportunity of a lifetime.
Kieran Jackson chats exclusively to the British F1 rookie sensation:
Max Verstappen on the potential of a tight F1 season:
04:15
,
Kieran Jackson
“Impossible to know at the moment.
“We are not the quickest at the moment but it’s a very long season.
“From the start of last year to the end, a lot of things can change quickly in Formula 1?”
Martin Brundle on Bearman's crash:
03:19
,
Kieran Jackson
“He just missed the apex, ran wide. Was probably a bit too gun-ho. It was a little bit overconfident and it will have knocked some of his confidence.
“He will lose some track time this weekend.”
FULL FP1 RESULTS:
03:10
,
Kieran Jackson
Lando Norris topped the timesheets in FP1 for McLaren
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 14, 2025
Here's the final FP1 classification #F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/4Mqeps5bGu
READ MORE: Ollie Bearman sustains heavy crash!
02:53
,
Kieran Jackson
Ollie Bearman escaped unharmed after a heavy crash in practice at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old, making his full-time F1 debut with Haas after three races as a reserve last year, lost control of his car coming out of the high-speed turn 10 section.
His car entered the gravel after a snap of oversteer, before the car spun into the wall with one tyre coming loose from the car.
More below:
Lando Norris fastest in FP1!
02:35
,
Kieran Jackson
An action-packed session!
Two red flags - one due to debris, one due to that Bearman crash - but at the end of it, Lando Norris goes fastest!
His McLaren set a time of 1:17:252, 0.149 secs quicker than Williams’s Carlos Sainz!
3-10: Leclerc, Piastri, Verstappen, Albon, Russell, Alonso, Hadjar, Stroll
As for Lewis Hamilton? He’s down in P12 and wasn’t overly comfortable in his Ferrari car!
George Russell has a spin out of turn 3!
02:32
,
Kieran Jackson
Hairy moment for the Brit, who drops a wheel onto the grass and spins!
Fortunately, the run-off area saves him and he doesn’t hit the wall!
Lando Norris goes quickest!
02:31
,
Kieran Jackson
Late in the day, Norris goes quickest with a 1:17:252 - 0.149 secs quicker than Sainz!
Lewis Hamilton:
02:24
,
Kieran Jackson
“I’m struggling to turn the car!”
Not what you want to hear...
GREEN FLAG!
02:22
,
Kieran Jackson
A quick clean up job for the marshals and with Bearman’s smashed up car safely removed, we can get going again in FP1!
Just 10 minutes left, and a lot of cars queueing in the pit-lane in an attempt to get one more lap in!
PICTURE: Bearman crash
02:19
,
Kieran Jackson
Ollie Bearman:
02:10
,
Kieran Jackson
Bearman: “I’m OK, I’m sorry.”
Engineer: “No worries Ollie, the car is safe.”
RED FLAG!
02:09
,
Kieran Jackson
Oh no!
Ollie Bearman is in the wall after a big shunt!
Session stopped!
The 19-year-old was going quickly around turn 10 before entering the gravel. His car then spun uncontrollably into the wall! Nightmare for the Brit on his full-time debut!
Carlos Sainz goes P1!
02:08
,
Kieran Jackson
Gasps in the media centre as Sainz goes quickest, 0.060 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc in second!
Max Verstappen quickest after 30 mins!
02:03
,
Kieran Jackson
As some cars switch from mediums to softs, Max Verstappen goes P1 with arch nemesis George Russell in second, 0.020 seconds behind.
3-10: Leclerc, Sainz, Hadjar, Norris, Hamilton, Piastri, Tsunoda, Gasly
Russell, meanwhile, complains of being “very hot inside the car.”
Session stops!
01:55
,
Kieran Jackson
Back underway in Melbourne after that brief stoppage...
Jack Doohan the guilty party!
01:51
,
Kieran Jackson
Just a little kick up of gravel from the Aussie driver, forcing the red flag!
Shouldn’t be too long to clear up, me thinks..
RED FLAG!
01:49
,
Kieran Jackson
Session stopped!
Loads of gravel on the track at turn 6 and so they’ve stopped the session to get that cleaned up!
Unclear at this moment who went through the gravel trap...
George Russell on team radio:
01:49
“Just have a look at the high speeds, particularly out of 9 and 10.”
Liam Lawson touches the wall!
01:40
,
Kieran Jackson
A little clip of the wall for Red Bull’s new driver, though no damage done to the car!
Quite a lot of damage down to the camera on the wall though... completely destroyed!
Lando Norris top of the timesheet early on, 0.064 seconds clear of Charles Leclerc
Only 10 minutes gone though!
FP1 underway!
01:35
,
Kieran Jackson
And we are a go in F1 in 2025!
A Sauber with an aero-rake is the first car out, followed closely by most of the field!
Practice just five minutes away!
01:25
,
Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton is walking around the Ferrari garage fist-pumping all his engineers, ahead of his first official race session with the Scuderia!
All eyes will be on the seven-time world champion this morning in his first practice session!
It’s also a big day for the six full-time rookies on the grid... practice starts in five minutes!
Drive to Survive: The major F1 storylines Netflix missed in season 7
01:19
,
Luke Baker
The latest season of Drive to Survive was released on Friday as the popular docu-series tells the story of the 2024 season.
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari featured prominently, as did the Christian Horner scandal and Max Verstappen’s title win. But what major stories from last year did Netflix miss in season 7?
Australian Grand Prix statistics
00:46
,
Luke Baker
Statistics for Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne's Albert Park:
Lap distance: 5.278km. Total distance: 306.124km (58 laps)
2024 pole position: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) one minute 15.915 seconds.
2024 winner: Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
Race lap record: Sergio Perez (Red Bull), 1:20.235 - 2023.
NOTE: The circuit was shortened by 28 metres, with two turns taken out and seven corners modified, in 2022.
Start time: 0400 GMT (1500 local)
Oscar Piastri on potential home win this weekend:
Thursday 13 March 2025 23:45
,
Kieran Jackson
“We’ll see. No one knows what to expect, testing went pretty well and we’re pretty happy with how it went, Melbourne is different to Bahrain.
“Different every hour by the look of things, it’ll be an interesting weekend.
“We’re expecting to be at the front, whether it’s the pointy end we’ll see. “
Jack Doohan on first home race:
Thursday 13 March 2025 23:00
,
Kieran Jackson
“I’m super keen to get on the track, get to tomorrow, it’s been a long time since Abu Dhabi.
“To enjoy each time I’m on track, work hard with the team, deliver on track with whatever the car’s potential so far.”
Lewis Hamilton on expectations in Australia:
Thursday 13 March 2025 19:00
,
Kieran Jackson
“I definitely hope to be top-10! I don’t have expectations, I ultimately want to come away knowing I gave absolutely everything and excelled in every way I can, felt comfortable in the car and one foot in front of the other.
“We won’t know until tomorrow where we truly stand with the top teams, I’m hoping we can compete for top-5 – somewhere in that space.”
Lewis Hamilton warned over Ferrari honeymoon
Thursday 13 March 2025 17:00
,
Luke Baker
Lewis Hamilton has been warned that getting used to how things are done at Ferrari after 11 years with Mercedes may take a little time, even though he has made a promising start to life in Maranello.
Writing in his season preview for Sky Sports, F1 pundit and commentator Martin Brundle gave his thoughts on Hamilton’s switch.
“The Ferrari move does seem to be working for Lewis. I've never seen him smile so much,” wrote Brundle.
“He seems really energised and invigorated by this new opportunity. Lewis has been very smart too. Obviously, he knows team boss Fred Vasseur very well from times of old, but he's had an advance party at Ferrari to integrate as quickly as he can into the team. Angela Cullen has returned, while Marc Hynes has been back in the fold for a year or two now already.
“He's got a new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, and has got to understand how Ferrari works, which will be diametrically opposed to how Mercedes works in terms of culture I suspect, in terms of procedures. Lewis is going to have to find out where all the green buttons are and I expect it will take him a little bit of time to get used to that, along with speaking some Italian.”
Why Lando Norris knows there is ‘no excuses’ now – he has to win 2025 F1 title
Thursday 13 March 2025 13:20
,
Flo Clifford
Taking the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi at the final race of 2024, bringing home a first constructors’ title in 26 years for McLaren, brought up mixed emotions for cheerful chappy Lando Norris.
On one hand, it was pure elation. A member of the McLaren family for eight years, this meant as much to Norris as anyone else. He described it as a “perfect” end to the season, beating Ferrari to the championship by 14 points. And he’d need no invitation; he was going to get “hammered” later that night over the border in Bahrain.
Yet in the same breath, even amid joyous papaya-clad celebrations on the pit-wall, the boy from Bristol could not help but sample that bittersweet taste. “It’s been a special year,” he said over team radio, before adding: “And next year is going to be my year, too.”
French rookie Isack Hadjar ready for F1 debut
Thursday 13 March 2025 13:12
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar is heading into the season-opening Formula 1 race in Australia with fewer than 500 laps in a Grand Prix car under his belt.
The 20-year-old Hadjar has been dubbed 'Petit Prost' — a young version of former F1 star Alain Prost — by the French media for his successes in F2 last year, when he finished runner-up with four victories. That was two more than champion Gabriel Bortoleto, now with Sauber.
The French driver has had just four practice sessions in F1 and last year's post-season test for Red Bull Racing and the brand's second Grand Prix team, now known as Racing Bulls. He says "it's enough" ahead of his first F1 race weekend.
"Ideally, I would go on different tracks, of course, because now Melbourne in an F1 car is pretty challenging," Hadjar said. "By F1 experience, I've been on really easy tracks — Bahrain and Abu Dhabi mostly. So now on really challenging tracks, it's going to be a fair bit different."
Lando Norris dismisses ‘short-sighted’ F1 teams who have McLaren as clear favourites
Thursday 13 March 2025 12:30
,
Kieran Jackson
Lando Norris believes McLaren’s tag as clear F1 favourites is being exaggerated as the Brit looked to dampen expectations ahead of the new season.
The McLaren driver, who finished runner-up to Max Verstappen last year, is the title favourite with the bookies this year following McLaren’s constructors’ championship victory in 2024.
Yet Norris looked to downplay McLaren’s favourites tag, when asked ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend.
Oscar Piastri on his new long-term contract:
Thursday 13 March 2025 10:30
,
Kieran Jackson
“I was already signed up for this year and next but it felt like a natural progression to sign longer term.
“My years at the team have been incredible to when I joined to constructors’ champions.
“It made a lot of sense, myself and Lando are there for a long time now – it seemed like a no-brainer.”
Carlos Sainz on Williams:
Thursday 13 March 2025 08:59
,
Kieran Jackson
“I feel I’ve joined a team full of motivation, who want to bring the team back to the front. It was a good test in Abu Dhabi.
“We’ve had a strong winter, a positive test, are we going to be one second off the leaders? I don’t know. We want to show progress.
Michael Schumacher tribute unveiled by son Mick and Sebastian Vettel: ‘Keep fighting’
Thursday 13 March 2025 05:30
,
Flo Clifford
A group of prominent Formula 1 figures showed their support for Michael Schumacher at the Race of Champions in Sydney as they urged the seven-time world champion to “keep fighting”.
Mick Schumacher, the German great’s son, and former F1 driver Sebastian Vettel were among those in attendance as a banner was unveiled at the Accor Stadium.
Schumacher suffered a traumatic brain injury in a skiing accident in 2013 and has not since been seen in public, with few updates provided by his family about his health as he rehabilitates privately.
Lewis Hamilton on Ferrari debut this weekend:
Thursday 13 March 2025 04:39
,
Kieran Jackson
“I’m very fortunate, I’ve had a long career in Formula 1. This is very reminiscent of my first year, for all those years I’ve gone up and down the paddock and seen the red garage, now I’m in red.
“The pressure I’ve put on myself has been ten times higher than any pressure put upon me. I haven’t been made to feel any pressure, I know what I can deliver and it’s just getting my head down. No expectations this weekend... just getting used to this new car.
“This is the most exciting period of my life.”
Lewis Hamilton when asked if he's happy with the Ferrari car:
Thursday 13 March 2025 03:41
,
Kieran Jackson
“Yes so far. I feel so. Difficult to know where we stand with everyone else, Carlos was incredibly quick, Kimi too.
“It’s going to be close between us all. I’m itching to get going, it’s been a long time coming, to think this is going to be my first grand prix with the team, very honoured and grateful to get the opportunity.”
Oscar Piastri signs long-term extension with McLaren: ‘It’s a no-brainer’
Thursday 13 March 2025 01:30
,
Jamie Braidwood
Oscar Piastri has signed a multi-year deal with McLaren on the eve of the opening race of the new Formula One season.
Piastri, 23, who was already under contract until 2026, has now secured his long-term future with the British team.
The Australian driver finished fourth in the championship last year. He opened his winning account in Hungary before claiming a second victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
With McLaren expected to carry over their constructors’-winning form into the new season, Piastri is set to battle with team-mate Lando Norris for the world title.
Speaking after his contract extension was announced, Piastri, gearing up for his third season on the F1 grid, said: “It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m part of McLaren’s long-term vision.”
Oscar Piastri signs long-term extension with McLaren: ‘It’s a no-brainer’
Wednesday 12 March 2025 16:39
,
Luke Baker
Oscar Piastri has signed a multi-year deal with McLaren on the eve of the opening race of the new Formula One season.
Piastri, 23, who was already under contract until 2026, has now secured his long-term future with the British team.
The Australian driver finished fourth in the championship last year. He opened his winning account in Hungary before claiming a second victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
With McLaren expected to carry over their constructors’-winning form into the new season, Piastri is set to battle with team-mate Lando Norris for the world title.
Speaking after his contract extension was announced, Piastri, gearing up for his third season on the F1 grid, said: “It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m part of McLaren’s long-term vision.”
Lewis Hamilton warned over Ferrari honeymoon
Wednesday 12 March 2025 16:13
,
Luke Baker
Lewis Hamilton has been warned that getting used to how things are done at Ferrari after 11 years with Mercedes may take a little time, even though he has made a promising start to life in Maranello.
Writing in his season preview for Sky Sports, F1 pundit and commentator Martin Brundle gave his thoughts on Hamilton’s switch.
“The Ferrari move does seem to be working for Lewis. I've never seen him smile so much,” wrote Brundle.
“He seems really energised and invigorated by this new opportunity. Lewis has been very smart too. Obviously, he knows team boss Fred Vasseur very well from times of old, but he's had an advance party at Ferrari to integrate as quickly as he can into the team. Angela Cullen has returned, while Marc Hynes has been back in the fold for a year or two now already.
“He's got a new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, and has got to understand how Ferrari works, which will be diametrically opposed to how Mercedes works in terms of culture I suspect, in terms of procedures. Lewis is going to have to find out where all the green buttons are and I expect it will take him a little bit of time to get used to that, along with speaking some Italian.”
Lando Norris 'ready to win title', says Mika Hakkinen
Wednesday 12 March 2025 15:41
,
Luke Ba
