NORRIS WINS RAIN SOAKED AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

Formula One is back for 2025. For the first time since 2019 we started the season at Albert Park in Australia, and what a race we were given in a season that has been built up as a all timer, a classic, one for this history books and if this opening race is anything to go by then I'm inclined to believe them.

The drama started before the racing had even started as rookie Isack Hadjar puts it into the wall in turn two on the formation lap on a slippery track which would go on to claim many more drivers in the race. It was heart breaking to see Hadjar tearful after the debut no driver wants.

It was title favourite Lando Norris who lead into turn one as Max Verstappen passes home favourite Oscar Piastri for second. George Russell is fourth and Charles Leclerc is up into fifth.

Jack Doohan only makes it around eight corners into his full debut as the rear of his car has been dissolved, after he lost the rear end after adding some power and the car bottoms out and he goes into the wall. The Safety Car is deployed. Not a rookie but making his debut for his new team WIlliams it was Carlos Sainz who goes off at the final corner and is out.

Thats three retirements before the third lap.

On lap eight we get the green flag and we go back to racing at full speed - Norris keeps first place ahead of Max and Oscar in third.

With Max sandwiched inbetween the McLaren's it looked lime it could stay that way for the foreseeable until lap seventeen when Verstappen doesn’t quite make the corner and Piastri won’t have an easier overtake on the reigning World Champion. It’s a McLaren 1-2 once again.

The fourth driver to be caught out was Fernando Alonso who spins and is out of the race on lap thirty four! The Safety Car is back out for spin as everyone looks to pit for dry tyres.

McLaren keep their 1-2 lead after the pit stops under the Safety Car.

On lap forty two we get the green flag once more… we go again and this time on dry tyres - Norris is away out in front with Piastri close behind him and Max is third. Russell fourth and Leclerc fifth.

It was looking comfortable for the team from Woking as they looked set for a 1-2 finish down under but then on lap forty five...

THE MCLAREN’S ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE BOTH IN THE GRAVEL AT THE PENULTIMATE CORNER AS PIASTRI SPINS OFF AND NORRIS PEELS INTO THE PITS! VERSTAPPEN LEADS FROM YUKI TSUNODA AND LEWIS HAMILTON IN THIRD!

After all that Norris is down to sixth and Piastri is a lap down and in 15th.

As the rain begins to fall again over Albert Park drivers pit but Ferrari decide to stay out on the dry tyres which momentarily of lap forty seven as Hamilton leads on his Ferrari debut.

While Hamilton savoured the fresh air it was Kiwi Liam Lawson who has gone into the wall a carbon copy of Hadjar's crash at turn two and reigning F2 Champion Gabriel Bortoleto has gone off after what looks lie his suspension snapped taking him out of his F1 debut early. The Safety Car is called upon once more in this race.

With nine laps left on lap forty eight Norris leads from Verstappen. Russell in third and Alex Albon is fourth with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli in fifth.

The final restart got underway on lap fifty two. A shoot out at the end of this race for the podium positions. It’s a clean getaway for Norris, Verstappen second and Russell third.

Ultimately thats how it finished with Verstappen pushing Norris until the very end.

The next race is the Chinese Grand Prix.

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