McLaren Dominates Chaotic Australian Grand Prix: Race Review and Ratings
The 2025 Formula 1 season kicked off in spectacular fashion at Melbourne’s Albert Park, with a wet/dry race1 that delivered drama from start to finish. Following a qualifying session where McLaren locked out the front row, the race saw changeable conditions test the skills of drivers and the strategic acumen of teams. Here’s a review of the key moments and our driver and team ratings:
Race Summary
Lando Norris converted his pole position into a victory for McLaren, but it was far from straightforward1. The race began on intermediate tyres as rain threatened4, and the conditions remained unpredictable throughout the afternoon1. There were multiple safety car periods, triggered by crashes from several drivers, including rookies Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan, and Gabriel Bortoleto, as well as Fernando Alonso.
Norris led for much of the race, but Max Verstappen kept him under pressure, ultimately finishing second. George Russell secured the final podium spot for Mercedes. Home favourite Oscar Piastri, starting alongside his teammate on the front row, had a disappointing race, finishing ninth after an off-track excursion.
The mixed conditions led to varied strategic calls, some of which paid off handsomely, while others proved costly1. Tyre management was a crucial factor, with McLaren demonstrating an impressive ability to warm up their tyres effectively and manage degradation.
Team Ratings
Here’s a look at how each team performed in the Australian Grand Prix:
McLaren: Rating – 9/10 McLaren started the season as the “undisputed pre-season favourite” and largely lived up to the hype. Securing a one-two in qualifying. was a significant achievement, and Norris’s victory1 was a deserved reward for his pace. The team also demonstrated excellent tyre management. However, Piastri’s spin. prevented a potential one-two finish, keeping the “dreaded Australian podium curse” intact for home drivers. Overall, a very strong start to their title defence. Mclaren Home Page
Red Bull Racing: Rating – 7/10 While Max Verstappen finished second, it wasn’t a dominant performance from Red Bull. They were notably “a little heavier on the tyres, particularly in the last sector” compared to McLaren. Verstappen himself made a rare mistake in the wet. Liam Lawson’s debut was a “Red Bull debut to forget”, with elimination in Q1 and a race crash. Encouragingly, Verstappen was “encouraged” by Red Bull’s pace towards the end of the race.
Mercedes: Rating – 8/10 Mercedes had a solid start to the season. George Russell secured a podium finish in third, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, despite a difficult qualifying, recovered to finish fourth (initially fifth with a penalty, later rescinded)1…. Their “impeccable strategy” in the wet conditions was a key factor in their strong result. The team seemed to time their late stop for intermediates beautifully.
Ferrari: Rating – 5/10 Ferrari looked like McLaren’s closest challenger initially16, but ultimately underperformed. Both Charles Leclerc (eighth) and Lewis Hamilton (tenth) finished outside the top five. They “lost pace over one lap” in qualifying and struggled with overheating. Their strategy in the changing conditions was criticised, as they left their cars out too long on slicks when the rain intensified. Hamilton’s Ferrari debut was not the greatest.
Williams: Rating – 7.5/10 Williams had a very encouraging race. Alexander Albon drove brilliantly to finish fourth1…, almost contending for a podium18. Their “correct strategy calls” in the challenging race conditions were crucial to their success. This result provides a “big morale boost” for the team18.
Racing Bulls: Rating – 5/10 It was a weekend of missed opportunities for Racing Bulls. Yuki Tsunoda showed “superb drives in qualifying and the race”, but a pit stop for inters that came too late cost him points. Isack Hadjar’s F1 debut was “heartbreaking” as he crashed out on the formation lap1…. The team will be frustrated that they couldn’t capitalise on the pace their car showed, especially on a unique circuit like Albert Park.
Sauber: Rating – 7/10 Sauber had a surprisingly positive race, with Nico Hulkenberg finishing seventh1…. Their strategy was “impeccable”, helping them secure their first points of the season. Although Gabriel Bortoleto crashed out, he showed impressive speed and attitude throughout the weekend. This result is a “big lift” for the team after a difficult 2024.
Aston Martin Racing: Rating – 4/10 Lance Stroll finished sixth1…, a decent points haul, but Fernando Alonso crashed out4. Alonso also reported floor damage in qualifying which likely impacted his performance. Overall, a somewhat underwhelming weekend for the team.
Alpine: Rating – 3/10 A disappointing weekend for Alpine. Pierre Gasly finished ninth in qualifying23, but the race saw Jack Doohan crash out early. Neither driver managed to secure significant points.
Haas F1 Team: Rating – 2/10 Haas had a difficult weekend from the outset. Oliver Bearman’s crash in FP1 cost him valuable track time, and both drivers struggled in qualifying. In the race, Esteban Ocon and Bearman finished outside the points24. The team appears to be the “slowest team at the moment”24, highlighting a lack of pace.
Driver Ratings
Here’s how some of the key drivers performed:
Lando Norris (McLaren): 9.5/10 A near-perfect weekend for Norris. He secured pole position and drove a composed race to take victory. He withstood late pressure from Verstappen and demonstrated excellent tyre management.
Lando Norris Gifts and Merchandise
Oscar Piastri (McLaren): 6/10 Starting on the front row at his home race, much was expected of Piastri. While his qualifying pace was strong, his race was compromised by a spin, ultimately finishing ninth. The “Australian podium curse” continues for him.
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing): 8/10 Verstappen salvaged a second-place finish despite not having the outright pace of Norris in the McLaren. He made a rare mistake in the wet4 and his car seemed to struggle more with tyre degradation.
Max Vertsappen Gifts and Merchandise.
George Russell (Mercedes): 8/10 A strong and composed drive from Russell to secure third place. He kept himself out of trouble in the chaotic race and benefited from Mercedes’ good strategy.
Alexander Albon (Williams): 9/10 Albon delivered an exceptional performance, qualifying well and driving a faultless race to finish fourth. He capitalised on Williams’ smart strategic calls.
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): 5.5/10 Leclerc qualified seventh and finished eighth, failing to make significant progress in the race. Ferrari’s strategic gamble didn’t pay off for him.
Charles Leclerc Gifts and Merchandise
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): 5/10 Hamilton’s Ferrari debut was underwhelming, finishing tenth. He had a spin in qualifying and the team’s strategy didn’t favour him in the race. He will need time to “gel with both the car and the team”.
Lewis Hamilton Gifts and Merchandise.
Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls): 7.5/10 Tsunoda showed impressive pace throughout the weekend, outperforming his teammate significantly. However, a late pit stop cost him a potential points finish.
Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber): 7/10 A solid and composed drive in the wet conditions saw Hulkenberg secure a valuable seventh-place finish for Sauber.
Liam Lawson (Red Bull Racing): 3/10 A difficult debut weekend for Lawson, with struggles in qualifying culminating in an early race retirement after a crash1…. He will be hoping for a much cleaner weekend in the next race.
The 2025 Australian Grand Prix provided a thrilling start to the season, with McLaren emerging as the early frontrunners. However, the unpredictable nature of the race and the mixed conditions highlighted that there is still plenty to play for as the Formula 1 circus moves to the next round.
