Formula One 2025 Round 1 – Australia 14-16 March

Race Preview

The Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix 2025 is set to ignite the new season, taking place at the picturesque Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne from the 13th to the 16th of March. This highly anticipated event will mark the beginning of a record-breaking global tour for Formula 1.

The Albert Park Circuit, a 5.278-kilometre, 16-turn track, has been the proud host of the Australian Grand Prix since 1996. The only exceptions to this continuous tenure were the unfortunate cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, Australia is slated to host the opening round of the Formula 1 World Championship for at least five seasons, commencing in 2025 and continuing until the current contract with Albert Park concludes in 2035.

The unique nature of the Albert Park circuit, which utilises public roads weaving around the Albert Park lake, contributes to its distinctive characteristics. As a street circuit used only once a year, the grip levels tend to be quite low, especially during the initial practice sessions on Friday, until sufficient tyre rubber is laid down. This inherently slippery condition can make overtaking a challenging endeavour. However, in an effort to enhance overtaking opportunities, the FIA has introduced a third Drag Reduction System (DRS) zone for the current season. Strategically, the most promising locations for overtaking are identified as Turns 3 and 11.

The race weekend unfolds across four days, commencing on Thursday with the drivers’ press conference followed by “The F1 Show: Lights Out 2025”. Friday’s track action begins with Australian GP Practice One (starting at 1:30 am UK time), followed by F3 Qualifying, the Team Principals’ Press Conference, and Australian GP Practice Two (starting at 5:00 am UK time). Saturday sees the continuation of support races with the F3 Sprint and F2 Sprint, leading up to Australian GP Practice Three (starting at 1:30 am UK time) and the crucial AUSTRALIAN GP QUALIFYING (starting at 5:00 am UK time). The weekend culminates on Sunday, March 16th, with the F2 Feature Race preceding the main event, the AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX, which gets underway at 4:00 am UK time. For avid viewers in the United Kingdom, Sky Sports F1 will provide comprehensive live coverage of the entire race weekend, from the very first practice session on Friday morning right through to the Grand Prix itself on Sunday. Sky Sports subscribers can access this coverage not only on their televisions but also on the Sky Sports app. For those without a Sky Sports subscription, options are available to stream the action live using a NOW Day or a cancel-anytime Month pass. Furthermore, anyone on the move can stay updated with live coverage through Sky Sports’ dedicated F1 blog. Highlights of the race will also be available shortly after the chequered flag.

The weather forecast for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix weekend in Melbourne suggests a mixed bag of conditions. While Friday is expected to be mainly sunny with temperatures reaching the high 20s Celsius, there is a notable possibility of showers affecting Qualifying on Saturday and potentially the race itself on Sunday. The forecast from The Weather Channel indicates a 43% chance of rain on Sunday and 31% on Friday, with a lower 18% chance on Saturday. Given Melbourne’s reputation for variable weather, with the potential for rapid changes, teams will need to remain highly adaptable. Adding to the challenges, the race weekend is predicted to be hot, with air temperatures consistently in the high 20s Celsius, which could lead to significant tyre degradation throughout the sessions and the race. Pirelli, the official tyre supplier for Formula 1, has opted for a reasonably aggressive tyre allocation for Melbourne, bringing the soft, supersoft, and ultrasoft compounds. The question remains as to which teams and drivers will be able to best manage these tyre compounds under the anticipated hot and potentially changeable conditions.

Delving into the historical tapestry of the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park reveals several intriguing statistics and trends. While Melbourne has been a consistent fixture on the F1 calendar since 1996, Adelaide held the honour of hosting Formula 1’s arrival on Australian shores in 1985. Looking at more recent history, Mercedes emerged as the dominant force in Formula 1 following the switch to V6 turbo hybrid engines in 2014. The Silver Arrows impressively secured four consecutive constructors’ and drivers’ world championships. Only McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull had previously achieved such a feat. Had Mercedes managed to secure a fifth consecutive double championship, they would have joined Ferrari in an even more exclusive club and moved within one title of equalling the all-time record. Pre-season testing in 2018 suggested they were once again the team to beat, although Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff anticipated a close three-way battle for the crown. Indeed, he noted that the previous year’s competition with Ferrari had been intense, and he expected Red Bull to join the fray in the upcoming season.

In terms of driver performance at Albert Park, Lewis Hamilton boasts an impressive qualifying record, having secured pole position six times in his 11 attempts up to 2018. However, despite this raw speed, he had only converted these pole positions into two victories in Melbourne (in 2008 and 2015). The Mercedes team as a whole demonstrated strong form in Melbourne, securing four consecutive pole positions and winning three of the last four races leading up to 2018, only once failing to achieve a double podium finish during that period. Despite this statistical dominance, as highlighted in a 2025 preview, Hamilton has finished second in five of his last seven starts at Albert Park between 2014 and 2019, winning just once despite his six consecutive poles in that period.

Ferrari, considered by many as Mercedes’ closest rivals, topped the timesheets during pre-season testing in 2018 with Sebastian Vettel, who had triumphed in Melbourne 12 months prior, overcoming the Mercedes challenge. That victory marked Vettel’s second Down Under, adding to his four other podium finishes from ten attempts. Vettel was also on the cusp of a significant milestone in 2018, looking to become just the fourth driver in Formula 1 history to achieve 100 podium finishes, joining the esteemed company of Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, and Alain Prost. Interestingly, despite the general trend that the winner in Australia often goes on to become the world champion (happening nine times since 2002), Vettel’s victory in 2017 proved an exception to this rule. Furthermore, a one-two finish in Melbourne has historically been a strong indicator of future success, with the team achieving such a result always going on to clinch the constructors’ championship. However, in the context of the 2025 preview, it’s noted that Carlos Sainz produced an incredible performance to win the 2024 Australian Grand Prix for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc finishing second, marking a Ferrari one-two.

Of the so-called ‘big three’ teams, Red Bull were often considered the dark horses, particularly in the lead-up to the 2018 season. Despite finishing 2017 strongly with two wins in the final six races, their historical tendency for slow starts meant they had only won in Australia once, back in 2011. Neither Max Verstappen nor Daniel Ricciardo had achieved a podium finish in Melbourne, with fifth and fourth being their respective best results at that time. More recently, a 2025 preview highlights that Max Verstappen has retired from two of his last three visits to Albert Park. Despite being the reigning world champion, some suggest he might be on the backfoot heading into the 2025 opener, although his competitive spirit means he can never be entirely ruled out. His new teammate, Liam Lawson, will also be under scrutiny in his performance.

An interesting statistic to note is that pole position isn’t always the golden ticket to victory in Melbourne. Eddie Irvine famously fought his way from 11th on the grid to win for Ferrari in 1999. In fact, only two of the last eight races leading up to 2018 were won from pole position. Overall, looking at 22 starts, there have been 10 wins from pole, and pole sitters have failed to finish four times. This unpredictability is further compounded by the frequent appearance of the safety car at Albert Park. In the ten races prior to 2018, the safety car had been deployed seven times, and in the last 12 Australian Grands Prix, it had completed a total of 47 laps, which is almost a full race distance (58 laps). This highlights the strategic challenges and potential for race-altering incidents. Despite the advancements in car performance, Michael Schumacher’s lap record for Melbourne, set in 2004 at 1m24.125s, remained unbroken even with the introduction of faster cars in previous seasons.

Regarding driver milestones, Hamilton entered the 2018 race on a 25-race point-scoring streak, just two races shy of Kimi Raikkonen’s all-time record. Valtteri Bottas, Hamilton’s teammate at the time, was aiming for a hat-trick of pole positions for the first time in his career, although Hamilton’s strong qualifying record against his teammates in Melbourne presented a significant hurdle. Notably, the 2013 Australian Grand Prix was the last time Kimi Raikkonen stood on the top step of an F1 podium. For local fans, there’s a long-standing disappointment: since the race joined the F1 calendar in 1985, no Australian driver has ever finished on the podium. Daniel Ricciardo came agonizingly close in 2014, crossing the line in second place only to be disqualified for a fuel flow infringement. Fourth place remains the best home finish to date, achieved by Mark Webber in 2012 and Ricciardo himself in 2016. A 2025 news item highlights “The Albert Park F1® curse and the Aussies who could break it in 2025,” suggesting this remains a prominent storyline. Oscar Piastri will undoubtedly have the fervent support of the home crowd in Melbourne and will be aiming to break this podium drought.

Looking ahead to the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, opinions on potential favourites are varied. Following McLaren’s impressive performance in pre-season testing, Lando Norris is considered by many to be a strong contender for victory. However, as mentioned, reigning world champion Max Verstappen cannot be discounted, despite suggestions that Red Bull might not have as dominant a start to the season as in previous years. Ferrari, with the addition of Lewis Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc, are also considered to be strong contenders, particularly after their one-two finish in the 2024 race with Carlos Sainz. A YouTube preview suggests that if Ferrari can avoid the strategic errors that have plagued them in the past, both Leclerc and Hamilton have a strong opportunity to win. The unpredictable nature of the Albert Park street circuit is also highlighted as a factor that could lead to unexpected outcomes, with safety cars and red flags potentially upending the race order, making long shots like George Russell (at 14 to 1 in one preview) a potentially worthwhile gamble.

“The Gurgler,” a sports and humour website, provides a light-hearted preview of the 2025 Australian F1 Grand Prix, including a “Race Potential Rating” based on the acronym of former F1 driver Teo Fabi’s surname. They rate the “FAST?” aspect a 7/10, noting the perceived speed due to the proximity of the walls and the enjoyable new back straight. “ACTION?” receives a high 9/10, emphasizing Albert Park’s tendency for eventful races, particularly as the season opener. “BIG HISTORY?” is rated 7/10, acknowledging the race’s long history in Australia and Melbourne. “INCLEMENT WEATHER?” also scores 7/10 due to the forecast suggesting a significant chance of rain on race day. Overall, their RACE POTENTIAL RATING is 75%, expressing enthusiasm for the first race of the season. Their statistical summary also notes that Lewis Hamilton has finished 2nd in five of his last seven starts and that just two of the last ten pole sitters have won in Melbourne.

Beyond the on-track action, the FORMULA 1 LOUIS VUITTON AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2025 promises a vibrant fan experience. The event at Albert Park will feature the Crown Lakeside Festival, with international superstar Fatboy Slim headlining the music on Sunday evening, along with a host of other live music acts entertaining racegoers throughout the Grand Prix weekend. Additionally, the “Australian F1® stars” are set to kick off the Melbourne Fan Festival. Fans will also have the opportunity to explore merchandise, various precincts around the circuit, and discover the city of Melbourne itself.

In conclusion, the 2025 Australian Grand Prix is poised to be a captivating start to the Formula 1 season. With a blend of historical context, intriguing statistics, unpredictable weather forecasts, and a host of potential frontrunners, the race at Albert Park promises high-octane action and plenty of talking points. The added element of a home crowd hoping for an Australian podium finish, combined with significant driver moves and team ambitions, sets the stage for a truly memorable opening chapter to the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship.