Norris Bat Vestappen to win the Australian GP in the middle of accidents while Hamilton endures the discerned beginnings of Ferrari – FIRSTPOST

Lando Norris of McLaren pushed a victory in a wet and wild Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, holding the title champion Max Verstappen in a white finish at a one -season opening season junmed with accident and safety cars.

George Russell of Mercedes finished third on the slippery circuit of Albert Park where only 14 of the 20 cars finished in the treacherous conditions.

Norris, the favorite of the pre-season for the title of the pilots, began the season formula one when he finished the last in Abu Dhabi, with the victory of Pole.

The victory ended in the long race in Verstappen at the top of the ranking of the championship dating from May 2022.

Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri started second on the grid but finished ninth, his dreams of becoming the first home driver to win the victory or a consolation podium ending with a skid in the grass.

Norris, who won his first victory in Melbourne and the fifth of his career, said it was a difficult race with Verstappen breathing the neck.

“It was incredible. A difficult race, especially with Max behind me,” he added.

“I pushed, especially in the last two laps. It was a little stressful, was not going to lie.

“This time, we understood well and we are finished in mind, so I’m happy.”

Lewis Hamilton’s beginnings for Ferrari proved to be a wet squib with the Briton finishing 10th, two places behind his teammate Charles Leclerc.

But it was an encouraging day for Williams, Alex Albon finishing fourth after the 18 -year -old Mercedes recruit Andrea Kimi Antonelli was demoted in fifth place due to a five -second penalty for a dangerous release of the pit.

Australian Mar GP crashes

The race was maintained for 15 minutes after the beginner Isack Hadjar lost control in the Tour of the Training in turn two and stopped his car from Bulls de racing in wall.

With his rear wing leaning out of shape and his race before his start, the unscathed French was in tears while his car was transported by a crane.

While Norris took a good start, Piastri would slip into the left and right in the first round, allowing Verstappen to roar from the outside.

The Australian recruit Jack Doohan disappeared shortly after restarting, crushing his alpine in the Tour Six in the first round to trigger the safety car while his father Mick, the very large motorcycle, looked at the incredulity of the team’s garage.

The drama continued as Williams, Carlos Sainz, became uncontrollable in turn 14 when the security car deployed.

When the track was rid of the danger, Norris held Verstappen from a distance while Piastri pinched the heels of the Dutchman.

The order of the three before held to the Tour 16 when Verstappen locked a front brake and fired largely to allow Piastri to stop second.

Piastri, with more rhythm than his teammate, had Norris in sight but received the order to hold the position by the McLaren garage until a rain shower passes and the track dries.

The world champion twice, Fernando Alonso, has become the fourth car eliminated when he left the Tour seven in the 34th round and crashed, bringing out the safety car.

Norris and Piastri opposed to change in hard tires, but another rain shower wreaks havoc 10 later, while Piastri gave up in the gravel and then found himself in the grass.

He managed to reverse and reintegrate the track, but his race was actually over.

Liam Lawson from Red Bull and Gabriel Bortoleto de Sauber then crashed into rapid succession, triggering a third deployment of safety cars.

Although this has given Verstappen a last crack at B Volt in Norris, the Briton showed a big composure to hold the Dutchmanship relentless at a distance and land the first blow in the championship before the second round in China.

F1 2025 classification:

With agency entries