Lando Norris Tops Australian GP Practice as Lewis Hamilton Struggles in….read more
The 2025 Formula 1 season continued with its first race at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, where Lando Norris set the fastest time in the opening practice session. The practice took place at the renowned Albert Park circuit, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of racing.
During the session, McLaren’s Lando Norris emerged as the fastest driver, posting a time that was 0.149 seconds quicker than second-placed Carlos Sainz of Williams. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the top three, just 0.06 seconds behind Sainz. Norris’ performance demonstrated the strength of McLaren’s package, with his team-mate Oscar Piastri also performing well, securing the fourth-fastest time.
One of the key highlights of the session was the heavy crash suffered by British rookie Oliver Bearman, who was driving for Ferrari in his first full season of Formula 1. Bearman, having made a few appearances with Ferrari and Haas in 2024, lost control of his car at Turn 10 and crashed heavily into the wall. Fortunately, Bearman was unharmed in the incident. The crash caused a red flag, halting the session for around 10 minutes while Bearman’s car was cleared from the track. This wasn’t the only stoppage in the session, as a red flag was also waved earlier to remove gravel from the exit of Turn 6, which had been dragged onto the track by Australian rookie Jack Doohan in the Alpine.
As for the defending champion, Max Verstappen of Red Bull, he finished the session in fifth place, ahead of Williams’ Alex Albon and Mercedes’ George Russell. Despite a late error in the session, where he dropped a wheel onto the grass, Russell was able to keep his car out of trouble and finished in seventh place. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin was in eighth place, while his teammate Lance Stroll was further down the field. In an interesting turn of events, French rookie Isack Hadjar, who is competing for Racing Bull this season, managed to split the Aston Martin duo, finishing in ninth.
The Australian Grand Prix is famous for its challenging corners, and Turn 6, in particular, has been a point of concern in recent years. Several drivers, including Russell and Albon, have had heavy crashes at this corner in the past. For the 2025 race, the FIA made modifications to the wall and the kerb to reduce the risk of accidents. Despite these changes, drivers still struggled with the corner, with Piastri running wide and bringing more gravel onto the track, further disrupting the session.
Lewis Hamilton, who is driving for Ferrari this season after leaving Mercedes, had a disappointing first session. The seven-time world champion could only manage 12th place, 0.819 seconds off the pace set by Norris. Additionally, Hamilton was 0.61 seconds behind his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc. Hamilton voiced his frustration over the team radio, stating that he was struggling to turn the car and felt uncomfortable with the setup in the tight and challenging corners of Albert Park. It’s clear that Hamilton and Ferrari still have some work to do in order to be competitive, as the veteran driver looks to adapt to his new team.
The session also saw several issues on track. In addition to Bearman’s crash and the gravel issues at Turn 6, the wall and kerb at Turn 10 were reworked to help mitigate the risk of accidents. However, the frequency of stoppages in the session has raised concerns, and the FIA may need to take further steps to address this issue to prevent additional disruptions throughout the weekend.
Off-track news also emerged, as it was revealed that all 10 Formula 1 teams have signed commercial agreements with the sport, committing to the championship until 2030. While these agreements secure the long-term future of F1, teams will still need to negotiate their contracts with the sport’s governing body, the FIA, before the end of the current season.
As the Australian Grand Prix weekend continues, the action on track is expected to heat up. The race will begin at 04:00 GMT on Sunday, March 16, with live coverage available on BBC 5 Sports Extra for practice and qualifying, and the race itself airing live on BBC Radio 5 Live. Fans can also stay updated with live text coverage on the BBC Sport website and app.
Overall, it looks like McLaren, with Norris leading the charge, could be a formidable force this weekend, while Hamilton and Ferrari face a steep challenge to find their rhythm ahead of the race. With more practice sessions ahead, teams will be keen to refine their setups and strategies for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable Australian Grand Prix.
