Lando Norris took pole position for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after he edged out McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.
Norris saw off Piastri’s challenge by just 0.084 seconds as McLaren secured an impressive front-row lockout in Melbourne.
World champion Max Verstappen finished a distant third with Mercedes’ George Russell fourth. RB’s Yuki Tsunoda took a surprise fifth, one place ahead of Williams’ Alex Albon.
It was a disappointing afternoon for Ferrari with Charles Leclerc only seventh, one place ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who will line up from eighth position for his Ferrari debut. Hamilton was 0.877 sec adrift of Norris.
Read More
F1 AUSTRALIAN GP - LATEST UPDATES
- The first F1 race of the 2025 season on Sunday starts at 4am (GMT), 3pm in Melbourne
- Heavy fain is falling at Albert Park ahead of the scheduled start time
- Lewis Hamilton starts in eighth in his first race for Ferrari
- Lando Norris snatched pole position from Oscar Piastri; Verstappen 3rd; Russell 4th
- ANALYSIS: Hamilton and Ferrari F1 are a ‘perfect match’ – but will results live up to the hype?
What time is the grand prix on Sunday?
Saturday 15 March 2025 07:11
,
Kieran Jackson
The race, which is expected to be wet, will start at 4am (GMT), that’s 3pm in Melbourne.
Lando Norris starts on pole position at the first race of the season alongside McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, while Max Verstappen is third on the grid.
Lewis Hamilton is down in eighth for Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc is seventh. Mercedes’ George Russell starts P4.
What will happen in the first race of the new season?!
Rain is getting heavier!
03:02
,
Kieran Jackson in Melbourne
A quick dart to and from the paddock tells me the rain is getting heavier at the circuit.
There’s definitely a sense that this favours Max Verstappen, following his standout performance in the rain in Brazil last year. In contrast, Lando Norris had a torrid race from pole in Interlagos - can he put that right this afternoon?
As of now, we are proceeding as normal with the 3pm local start time.
New rule changes for 2025
03:01
,
Olivia Hicks
The 2025 Formula 1 season ushers in more than just new faces: it also brings a series of rule changes.
Here are some key ones:
1. No fastest lap point: Say goodbye to the single point for the speediest driver. While one point may not mean much to the likes of Max Verstappen, some drivers lower down the grid will go all season without scoring a single point. The fastest lap point was many athlete’s only chance.
2. Driver cooling systems: When temperatures rise, the FIA has a solution. Now, drivers will be required to wear cooling systems when a heat hazard is declared.
3. Rookies and junior drivers enjoy double the testing time in FP1
4. Sanctions on testing older cars: Drivers are now only allowed four days in cars with a limit of 1000 km of testing ground covered.
5. The FIA to clamp down on “mini-DRS” wing designs
Windy and Wet: Anticipated strategies for the Australian GP
03:00
,
Olivia Hicks
Albert Park tends to bring on the chaos, but gusty and wet conditions mean Sunday’s Formula 1 race nearly guarantees traffic and turbulence. So, how can we expect teams to react to the unpredictable weather? If the rain holds off or the track dries in time for lights out, fans can expect to see a typical one-stop race.
Things get a bit more exciting when the showers start, though. If it is misty, it won’t be easy to predict what teams will decide. The possibility of the first wet race in Australia since 2010, paired with Pirelli’s new wet tyres, means it is anyone’s guess as to how the order will fall.
Despite a 70 percent chance of rain, Lando Norris said that won’t change his mentality.
“Win. The same. It doesn’t change,” the British driver said post-qualifying.
Meet your Formula 1 class of 2025
02:55
,
Olivia Hicks
Ahead of lights out, all 20 drivers took a group photo on a damp grid. Six of 20 are newbies and only two teams - McLaren and Aston Martin - carry over the same driver lineup as last season.
The class of 2025! #F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/7ChX0WGh4h
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 16, 2025
Who are the wild cards this season?
02:50
,
Olivia Hicks
With rookies making up 30 percent of the 2025 Formula 1 grid, the season is primed for uncertainty.
Both Williams and Racing Bulls showed great potential throughout the weekend with Williams newbie Carlos Sainz going second fastest in the first practice session of the weekend. In qualifying, Yuki Tsunoda snatched fifth while his teammate, rookie Isack Hadjar, secured 12th. Both Williams cars made the top 10 with Alex Albon in sixth and Sainz in 10th.
Oscar Piastri, speaking on the drivers parade:
02:44
,
Olivia Hicks
“It makes me want to push even more,” Piastri said about the rain. “It’s been an incredible weekend and thanks to the crowd for sticking out the weather. It’s going to be a pretty wild day I think, so I’m excited to see what we can do.
“If there’s a chance to try and win the race then I’m going to try and take it, it’s as simple as that. So let’s see what we can do.
“It’s going to be a pretty special race.”
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur after qualifying:
02:31
,
Kieran Jackson
“Obviously, we can’t be satisfied with today’s qualifying result. We didn’t look too bad in Q1 and Q2, as we were one to two tenths off the McLarens.
“However, in Q3, we didn’t do a good job because we didn’t manage to run at the same pace as our opponents and as a result, we find ourselves in positions that do not reflect our true potential.
“Tomorrow’s race could be a completely different scenario, as our pace was good yesterday and the forecast is for rain. The points are handed out tomorrow and we must do a good job now, preparing every last detail.
“I really believe we have the potential to bring home plenty of points.”
Carlos Sainz on the gusty and wet conditions
02:28
,
Olivia Hicks
“I’ve never driven this car in windy conditions like this. I’ve never driven this car in the wet. So you can imagine everything I’m going to be learning is going to be from lap one onwards.
“It’s going to be a steep learning curve: A lot of brain power used in those first laps to try and understand and adapt to everything that is going on.”
Lewis Hamilton, speaking on the drivers parade:
02:26
,
Kieran Jackson
“It’s been incredible, these first few months, to see the crowd here is incredible. Weather has been crazy, the support is insane.
“It is a phenomenal experience, I’m building with the team, another first experience today. I’ve never driven the car in the rain, the settings and communication with the team is different, so we learn on the fly.
“Getting the tyres working today, with the four laps to the grid, hopefully I can get on top of it. We haven’t had a race here in the rain for a long time as well.”
Liam Lawson after qualifying P18:
02:20
,
Kieran Jackson
“We expected the start of quali to be tough, to be honest,” Lawson said.
“The first laps, we expected to be off, and then we were just planning on building through the session, but obviously going off on that second lap sort of put everything out of order a bit.
“Then the last lap was good, honestly, just until the last sector where I just had a big drop.
“Missing P3 obviously doesn’t help any of this, but I shouldn’t be going off in quali so…”
Lando Norris, speaking on the driver parade:
02:11
,
Kieran Jackson
“I feel good. I slept beautifully last night, excited at the same time. There’ll be opportunities.
On battling Piastri: “We’re free to do whatever, we’re both racers and want to win.”
Jack Doohan, who starts P14 today:
02:05
,
Kieran Jackson
“Looking forward to getting stuck in and getting it all started.
“I’m comfortable in the wet, haven’t driven in a Formula 1 car in the wet but let’s do it.”
F1 STATEMENT: New Concorde Agreement reached
01:50
,
Kieran Jackson
Formula 1 can confirm that all teams have signed the 2026 Concorde Commercial Agreement, which secures the long-term economic strength of the sport. Formula 1 has never been in a stronger position and all stakeholders have seen positive benefits and significant growth.
We thank all the teams for their engagement during this process to reach the best outcome for the sport.
The 2026 Concorde Governance Agreement will be finalised in due course.
George Russell arrives in a very wet Melbourne paddock!
01:46
,
Kieran Jackson
The Mercedes driver starts fourth on the grid this afternoon, alongside arch rival Max Verstappen.
UPDATE: F2 race cancelled
01:40
,
Kieran Jackson
The feature race in Formula 2, after a few laps behind the safety car, has been cancelled due to the torrential downpours here at Albert Park.
Right decision... it’s so wet out there!
What does this mean for the grand prix? Let’s see how the weather plays over the next few hours!
How can I watch it online and on TV?
01:35
,
Kieran Jackson
The Australian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom - and ESPN in the United States. Sky’s coverage of Sunday’s race starts at 2:30am (GMT).
Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action in Melbourne on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the Australian Grand Prix then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market.
Why Lando Norris knows there is ‘no excuses’ now – he has to win 2025 F1 title
01:29
,
Kieran Jackson
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.”
What is the starting grid?
01:22
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Lando Norris
2. Oscar Piastri
3. Max Verstappen
4. George Russell
5. Yuki Tsunoda
6. Alex Albon
7. Charles Leclerc
8. Lewis Hamilton
9. Pierre Gasly
10. Carlos Sainz
11. Isack Hadjar
12. Fernando Alonso
13. Lance Stroll
14. Jack Doohan
15. Gabriel Bortoleto
16. Kimi Antonelli
17. Nico Hulkenberg
18. Liam Lawson
19. Esteban Ocon
20. Ollie Bearman
Good morning!
01:20
,
Kieran Jackson
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the first race of the 2025 season!
Lando Norris starts on pole position today for McLaren with Oscar Piastri - the hometown hero - alongside him on the front row!
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton is down in eighth as he makes his debut for Ferrari, with Max Verstappen in third and George Russell in fourth!
It is raining heavily at Albert Park today, which may mean we’re in for a long and entertaining first day of the new campaign!
QUALIFYING REPORT: Lando Norris snatches pole for Australian GP – as Lewis Hamilton receives Ferrari reality check
00:52
,
Kieran Jackson
Plenty was on the line with two minutes left of qualifying for the first race of the 2025 F1 season. Lando Norris, having gone beyond the limit in his first lap, was set to start 10th. There was a second chance – but there would not be a third.
Yet when it mattered most, the man tagged as the favourite for the 2025 F1 world championship pipped his Aussie teammate Oscar Piastri to pole for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, to the dismay of thousands in the grandstands.
Piastri had looked to have taken pole from defending champion Max Verstappen, who admitted afterwards he was satisfied with third place in an under-par Red Bull car. However, Norris, stretching his McLaren to the limit on this tricky 14-turn street circuit, made it count. Not by much, though, with just 0.084 seconds in it.
As for Lewis Hamilton, after all the fandom and hype, it was ultimately an underwhelming first qualifying showing for Ferrari. The 40-year-old, who dreams of a record-breaking eighth title with the sport’s most fabled marque, will start tomorrow’s race eighth on the grid. His teammate Charles Leclerc is alongside him in seventh.
Ollie Bearman reacts after failing to set a time in qualifying:
Saturday 15 March 2025 22:02
,
Kieran Jackson
“It’s a bit disappointing, of course, to not be able to get a lap on the board, but it’s been a messy weekend so far,” Bearman acknowledged afterwards.
“I haven’t run all weekend. That’s made it tough for the guys to actually understand [what’s happening], as we’ve been running with one car all weekend.
“I can only apologise to the team for that.”
Lewis Hamilton reacts to poor first qualifying for Ferrari in Australia: ‘A lot to dissect’
Saturday 15 March 2025 21:01
,
Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton admits Ferrari have a “lot to dissect” but remained upbeat after a disappointing first qualifying session for Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix.
In hot conditions on Saturday afternoon in Melbourne, McLaren’s tag as the favourites bore fruit as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locked out the front row, with the Brit pipping his Aussie teammate.
Yet for Ferrari, it was an underwhelming session, with Charles Leclerc seventh and Hamilton eighth on the leaderboard. Both will start behind Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda (fifth) and Alex Albon (Williams) tomorrow.
Full piece below:
Lewis Hamilton on cloud nine as Ferrari F1 debut looms: ‘This is the most exciting period of my life’
Saturday 15 March 2025 18:56
,
Kieran Jackson
For all his stardust, Lewis Hamilton is not always the easiest interviewee.
When he’s on-form, Formula One’s biggest star is thoughtful and genuine, with the ears of everyone in the room fixed on his words. At times, however, particularly in the last three topsy-turvy years at Mercedes, he can be reticent to speak at all.
Not now, though. Hamilton has the essence of a man completely reborn donning the famous Ferrari red and, ahead of his debut race this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix, the 40-year-old was unwavering in his exhilaration at what is to come in his 19th F1 season.
Full piece below:
Lando Norris after qualifying on pole:
Saturday 15 March 2025 18:02
,
Kieran Jackson
“Big congrats to the team, amazing job to continue, to start with a 1-2 but it’s just quali - it will be a tricky race but it was the perfect race to start.
“The car is extremely quick, when you put it together it’s unbelievable, little fight between me and Oscar and it was a tough one. You need to take a lot of risk but also get the lap clean, difficult mindset in the final lap but managed to pull it off.
“I’m never going to get ahead of myself, I’m not that kind of guy. We know how quick Max and Red Bull are in the rain, a lot of opportunities for everyone. We’ll see tomorrow.”
Max Verstappen told 'he doesn't have a chance' of F1 title this year
Saturday 15 March 2025 17:10
,
Flo Clifford
Max Verstappen does not have “a chance” of a fifth straight F1 Drivers’ Championship win in 2025, according to former driver Ralf Schumacher.
Schumacher believes Verstappen delivered a “rescue” effort in a struggling Red Bull car last year but he won’t be able to do the same again.
McLaren’s Lando Norris is the favourite to win the title this season and Schumacher is adamant Verstappen will be powerless to stop the Brit and others at the front of the grid.
Speaking on the Sky Germany podcast, Schumacher said: “Last year it was clear. Red Bull was very strong at the start of the season, but then they couldn’t handle the car. Verstappen was the rescue.
“However, he will have to get used to everything coming to an end. I don’t think he has a chance.”
Charles Leclerc after qualifying P7:
Saturday 15 March 2025 15:10
,
Kieran Jackson
“The lap wasn't great, all in all, we just didn't have the pace today. We mainly struggled with the balance of the car and putting it all together, so we have some work to do.
“We expect rain and tricky conditions for the race, so we will give it everything and see what's possible.”
Toto Wolff on 'impressive McLaren'
Saturday 15 March 2025 14:03
,
Kieran Jackson
“We were in the mix today and that was encouraging. We showed improved speed in FP3 having made some changes overnight.
“Whilst we looked like we were in the fight for pole position at moments in Qualifying, the McLarens were very impressive;
“I think it’s fair to say that they had a couple of tenths advantage over us on the optimal lap.
“Overall, it is a good start to the new season with the W16. It all looks close at the front, and we will see what we can do tomorrow.”
Lewis Hamilton warned over Ferrari honeymoon
Saturday 15 March 2025 13:07
,
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.”
Max Verstappen on the potential of a tight F1 season:
Saturday 15 March 2025 12:03
,
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?”
Oscar Piastri on winning his home race:
Saturday 15 March 2025 11:14
,
Kieran Jackson
It would be really special, I’m not setting my sights too firmly on that.
“It would be very special, it would mean a lot. To have an Aussie on the podium, that would be a good start, if I can be on the top step...
“Putting national pride aside, I want to do it for myself as well.”
Kimi Antonelli after qualifying P18:
Saturday 15 March 2025 10:14
,
Kieran Jackson
“It was a bit unfortunate. On the medium [tyres], obviously, it needed another lap to come in, but then we switched to softs, and I think after T6 the car was quite damaged.
“I don’t know how much it was in time, but I could feel a big loss in the straights, and then also quite a big loss in aero load.
“Definitely, the car was not the same as it was before that, and unfortunately it compromised the Qualifying.”
Norris on team combat
Saturday 15 March 2025 08:57
,
Kieran Jackson
"We're free to race!"
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) March 15, 2025
Lando Norris explains what 'papaya rules' look like for 2025 pic.twitter.com/6Pf1Un3QzG
Lando Norris on Ferrari's qualifying performance:
Saturday 15 March 2025 08:08
,
Kieran Jackson
“I was expecting a fight from Ferrari,” he said. “Max has said he is surprised to be up here [top-three].
“But everyone is quick to judge, it’s difficult out there to put a lap together. I did expect Ferrari to be a bit quicker.”
George Russell reacts after a respectable P4 in qualifying:
Saturday 15 March 2025 07:18
,
Kieran Jackson
"Q3 was a really tricky session!"
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) March 15, 2025
George Russell will be on the second row for the Australian GP pic.twitter.com/Fw8QXL4pml
Lewis Hamilton on qualifying P8:
Saturday 15 March 2025 06:52
,
Kieran Jackson
“I generally feel good. I had a really good time out there today. Everything has been a first this weekend, first practice sessions and qualifying, and it’s been a lot of work to adapt to this car, there’s so much different here to what I’ve experienced in the past.
“I didn’t know we’d be nine-tenths off today, so a lot of dissect.”
On being two-tenths off Leclerc: “Given Charles has been in this team for seven years, he knows this car in and out, I’m still learning those tools. To be that close in my first qualifying session, I’ll definitely take it.
“We’ll get our heads down, try and find out why we’re not on pace with the frontrunners. Tomorrow will be a challenge, I’ve never driven this car in the rain, I don’t even know the rain setting so I’ve got to go and study that tonight and it will be a learning experience again tomorrow.”
Lando Norris celebrates pole position
Saturday 15 March 2025 06:41
TOP-10 IN QUALIFYING
Saturday 15 March 2025 06:10
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Lando Norris
2. Oscar Piastri
3. Max Verstappen
4. George Russell
5. Yuki Tsunoda
6. Alex Albon
7. Charles Leclerc
8. Lewis Hamilton
9. Pierre Gasly
10. Carlos Sainz
Lando Norris:
Saturday 15 March 2025 06:02
,
Kieran Jackson
“Not a bad way to start the year!”
A stormer of a lap at the end there...
Lando Norris on pole position!
Saturday 15 March 2025 06:01
,
Kieran Jackson
Lando gets it done - by just 0.084 seconds to his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri!
Max Verstappen in third, three-tenths down!
And what a lap from Yuki Tsunoda for fifth place, Lewis Hamilton only eighth!
4-10: Russell, Tsunoda, Albon, Leclerc, Hamilton, Gasly, Sainz
Big moments this!
Saturday 15 March 2025 05:57
,
Kieran Jackson
Particularly for the McLaren duo, this is huge!
Final chance across the top-10 then!
2:00 to go...
Top-10 ahead of final laps...
Saturday 15 March 2025 05:55
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen - 1:15:671
2. Russell +0.024
3. Leclerc +0.084
4. Piastri +0.476
5. Albon +0.502
6. Tsunoda +0.568
7. Hamilton +0.656
8. Gasly +0.716
9. Sainz +1.693
10. Norris - no time
4:00 to go...
Max Verstappen on provisional pole!
Saturday 15 March 2025 05:52
By 0.024 seconds to George Russell, the Dutchman is on top!
Charles Leclerc is third, a tenth off, with Piastri fourth and Hamilton fifth.
Lando Norris had his lap deleted for track limits! He’ll only have one more chance!
7:00 to go in Q3...
Q3 underway!
Saturday 15 March 2025 05:49
,
Kieran Jackson
Here we go then!
Who will be on pole in Melbourne?!
10 drivers involved: Norris, Piastri, Verstappen, Russell, Leclerc, Hamilton, Sainz, Gasly, Tsunoda, Albon
Fernando Alonso out!
Saturday 15 March 2025 05:42
,
Kieran Jackson
Alonso can only go P12 - he’s out of qualifying!
Bottom-five and out of Q2 (11-15): Hadjar, Alonso, Stroll, Doohan, Bortoleto
Bortoleto with a big save on his final lap, but no good!
Time for the top-10 shootout!
Lewis Hamilton spins!
Saturday 15 March 2025 05:40
Hamilton should be safe but he’s spun in sector three!
Final laps coming in now...
Lewis Hamilton goes sixth-fastest!
Saturday 15 March 2025 05:36
,
Kieran Jackson
A tenth short of Charles Leclerc in fifth... the Ferraris look to be a smidge short of pole-setting pace so far!
Current bottom-five (11-15): Hadjar, Stroll, Bortoleto, Alonso, Doohan
Top-3: Piastri, Norris, Verstappen
4:00 to go.
Fernando Alonso in trouble
Saturday 15 March 2025 05:34
,
Kieran Jackson
After a visit to the gravel trap, Alonso is yet to set a time with 6:00 to go.
Current bottom-five (11-15): Hadjar, Stroll, Bortoleto, Alonso, Doohan
Carlos Sainz is the man in 10th place for the time being...
Liam Lawson:
Saturday 15 March 2025 05:31
,
Kieran Jackson
“We expected the start of quali to be tough. To be honest, the first laps were expected to be off, going off on that second lap put everything out on order.
“Last sector of final lap had a big drop, I shouldn’t be going off in quali.”
Piastri P1 early on in Q2!
<