On a day where keeping the car on the tarmac became a nightmare, the drivers who persevered in the conditions reaped massive rewards. Here are the winners and losers of the 2025 F1 Australian GP.
Lando Norris 9
Grid position: P1, Race Position: P1
An almost perfect race from Norris secured victory. The changeable conditions tested the Briton’s resolve and resilience, consigning memories of Russia 2021 firmly into the history books. He is the first driver other than Max Verstappen to lead the driver’s championship since 2022.
Norris looked imperious from the first lap, and overcame a slow start in the second phase off the line to lead into turn 1. From there, he controlled the pace in the opening stints of the race while others crashed out around him.
Seeing off a challenge from team-mate Oscar Piastri in between multiple safety cars, his biggest test came as the class three rain arrived in the closing stages.
In constant communication with his team before the rain arriving, he tried to pre-empt the shower. Norris went wide when it did start falling, he collected his MCL39 to retain the lead and dived into the pits for intermediates.
Seeing off Max Verstappen in the final few laps demonstrated his growth in composure since the nadir of Brazil 2024. With Piastri’s hopes sliding away during the race, the early psychological edge in the championship fight is now with the Briton.
Oscar Piastri: 4.5
Grid position: P2 Race Position: P9
Watching Oscar Piastri’s hopes skid into hopelessness resembled watching a couple breakup in slow motion. Uncomfortable, and unable to look away from the horror show, audiences watched on as all sense of dignity vanished as fast as his race chances.
Until this point, Piastri looked like a genuine threat to Norris’ race chances. On the radio in the opening phases stating he was faster, he made a couple of unforced errors, but always matched his team-mate’s pace.
After his error, he came charging through the field, including a last lap pass on Lewis Hamilton to secure P9. But the Australian GP will be remembered as the race Piastri threw away.
Max Verstappen: 9
Grid position: P3 Race Position: P2
Like Norris, Verstappen drove a near flawless race. The world champion was severely hindered by the handling of his RB21, and pushed hard to keep up with the McLarens as the track initially tried out.
A mistake let through Piastri, but his performance after the incident demonstrated why he is still the best driver on the grid. Although losing his tyres after pushing too hard, Verstappen closed back up to Norris when the rain started again
Pushing his rival all the way, he fancied his chances after the final Safety Car, moving to within a second of the McLaren. Ultimately unsuccessful, he will be delighted at securing second place after the challenges of testing.
Liam Lawson: 1
Grid position: Pitlane Race Position: DNF
Lawson’s race resembled watching a child attempt to win a running race at a sports day, in the same race as athletic teenagers. Instead of receiving a participation medal at the finish, he crashed out into the barriers. No metaphorical parent consoled him.
Woefully off the pace all weekend, the gap to team-mate Max Verstappen resembled a canyon. He will need to bounce back in China to prevent talk of losing seat becoming mainstream.
George Russell: 9
Grid position: P4 Race Position: P3
Russell excelled in his first race as team leader at Mercedes at the Australian GP.. Taking the term “keeping your nose clean” to heart, Russell made no errors on a day when many lost their cool. Even challenging Verstappen for a few corners, a podium is a great way to start off 2024.
The W16 cannot match the pace of the Red Bull or McLaren, but looks to be ahead of Ferrari. This could result in a few more lonely races for Russell in the first half of the season.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: 8
Grid position: P16 Race Position: P4
Starting P16, Antonelli was a loser of qualifying, missing out on progressing to Q2 by 0.001s. What a difference 24 hours makes. Antonelli finished the race as the only rookie to finish in the points, and had pushed hard to progress, including a daring move down the inside of Lewis Hamilton on the final lap.
Alex Albon: 8
Grid position: P16 Race Position: P5
Albon put in a heroic effort during the race to secure a top five finish for Williams. On a day where a driver could move from hero to zero within a matter of seconds, Albon kept his nose clean and delivered. Holding off the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton all afternoon, P5 was a fantastic result and a message to Carlos Sainz that he will not be usurped as team leader.
Carlos Sainz: 1
Grid position: P10 Race Position: DNF
Lasted less than a lap and crashed out after applying too much throttle. Not the way to make your debut at a new team. He will easily bounce back in China.
Lance Stroll: 7.5
Grid position: P13 Race Position: P6
The Australian GP was an answer to the many critics of Lance Stroll. The Canadian enjoyed a competitive race, outpacing team-mate Fernando Alonso. With the inherent flaws of the AMR25, his sixth place could come in handy by the midpoint of the season.
Fernando Alonso: 3
Grid position: P12, Race Position: DNF
Alonso’s race ended with an uncharacteristic error from the two-time world champion. His excursion into the barriers ended a mediocre race for the Spaniard, who was clearly unhappy with the handling of his AMR25.
Nico Hulkenberg: 8.5
Grid position: P17, Race Position: P7
Hulkenberg again demonstrated in Albert Park why he is a safe pair of hands for any team. Taking advantage of the sudden weather change later in the race, he outscored both Ferraris and scored more points than Sauber’s entire 2024 total. It was a fantastic return to his former team.
Gabriel Bortoleto: 4.5
Grid position: P15, Race Position:DNF
Bortoleto’s debut could have resulted in points for the Brazilian had he not crashed out in the latter stages. Until that point he looked competitive, but like like most of the rookies, he got caught out by the tricky conditions.
Charles Leclerc: 5
Grid position: P7, Race Position:P8
Charles Leclerc’s and Ferrari’s afternoon defined the term “average.” Average execution, average pace, and truly woeful strategy were the highlights. His highlight was a humorous radio exchange involving water in the cockpit. When that is what you are remembered for in a race, you know you had a bad one.
Lewis Hamilton: 4
Grid position: P8, Race Position:P10
The honeymoon period between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari is very much over. Hamilton’s race consisted of understanding the wet weather switches in cockpit, being unable to pass Alex Albon, and telling new race engineer Riccardo Adami to be quiet. Scolding the team for its woeful strategy calls summed up a truly awful first race in red for the seven-time world champion.
Pierre Gasly: 6.5
Grid position: P9, Race Position:P11
So close and yet so far for Gasly. Running in the points until the closing stages, a wide moment saw all his good work unravel. In the fight for the lower points positions, losing points could come back to haunt Alpine. Mistakes could have a dramatic impact on the championship later in the year, Gasly will need to return to his reliable ways to aid the team this year.
Jack Doohan: 1
Grid position: P14, Race Position:DNF
The driver under the most pressure on the grid endured a disastrous start to his potentially short F1 career. His first lap crash only made the discussions of his future louder. His statement in the media pen that he had a “good day” resembled a turkey walking willingly into an oven on Christmas day morning. Delusion will not save his seat, only results. Crashing out results in one less race in which to prevent himself from metaphorical roasting.
Yuki Tsunoda: 7
Grid position: P5, Race Position:P12
Tsunoda will leave Albert Park with a wry grin on his face after a competitive race. Running in the top six for the majority of the race, including second place at one point, his race unraveled in the final laps. But make no mistake, this was a statement of intent. In a different league compared to Lawson, the Japanese driver will look to replicate this performance in China.
Isack Hadjar: 0.5
Grid position: P11, Race Position:DNF
A first corner formation lap crash is unacceptable in F1, a fact Hadjar is aware of. His emotions got the better of him, leading to a public telling off from Dr Helmut Marko. Accidents happen, but Hadjar will have the weight of the world on his shoulders in China.
Esteban Ocon: 3
Grid position: P19, Race Position: P13
What a difference a year makes for Ocon. The Haas VF-25 behaved like a dog in the race relegating him to a race at the back of the grid. The word futile has not been more relevant since the last time the Borg graced the small screen.
Oliver Bearman: 2
Grid position: Pitlane, Race Position:P14
The Australian GP was the most track action Bearman had all weekend. His main impact in the race was emerging out of the pits into the path of Max Verstappen. He must do better next weekend.
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