F1 2025 Australian GP: Mercedes and Ferrari Dominate, McLaren Struggles

The 2026 Australian GP delivered an unequivocal verdict: Mercedes and Ferrari dominate the new regulatory era, while McLaren finds itself relegated to the rank of third force. George Russell takes the victory ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc, with a spectacular comeback from Max Verstappen from 20th to 6th place.

"He had a lot more pace than us, and I had to manage him to keep him behind." — Lando Norris, on his battle with Verstappen late in the race

Free Practice: Ferrari Sets the Tone, McLaren Nose-Dives

Friday in Melbourne, Ferrari's message was clear from FP1. Charles Leclerc clocks the fastest time, Lewis Hamilton behind in second. It's been a long time since the Reds showed such serenity at the start of a weekend. At Red Bull, Verstappen and French rookie Isack Hadjar round out the top 4 — a pleasant surprise for the new partnership with Ford.

McLaren, on the other hand, endures a tough Friday. Norris sits only 19th in FP1 after troubles with his car. Piastri is 6th but also faces some technical issues. FP2 partially rectifies the situation: Piastri takes the fastest time ahead of the two Mercedes of Antonelli and Russell, but Norris only climbs to 7th. The orange weekend is shaping up to be less radiant than expected.

Special case for Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso didn't run at all during FP1, with Stroll completing only three laps. A catastrophic start to the weekend that foreshadows a long season for the Silverstone team.

Qualifying and Grid: The True Order of Strength

Qualifying confirms what practice hinted at. Mercedes and Ferrari share the top positions, with Norris 6th and Piastri 5th on the grid. Verstappen, meanwhile, finds himself in 20th and last place — the result of penalties or technical issues according to available information — setting the stage for a comeback that the entire paddock will still be talking about on Monday.

The Race: Russell Masterful, Verstappen Phenomenal

The first fifteen laps are chaotic. Several cars encounter problems, the pack reorganizes in confusion — typical of a season start with new regulations. George Russell takes advantage to establish his pace and never lets go. He secures his 6th Formula 1 victory, ahead of young Kimi Antonelli, who achieves a remarkable result in his second full F1 season. Leclerc climbs to the podium in third, Hamilton finishes 4th — once again just off the podium, a scenario that is starting to become a habit.

Verstappen delivers the performance of the weekend. From 20th to 6th, behind Norris, the four-time world champion proves that even with a Red Bull clearly off the pace compared to the top two constructors, he can work miracles. Behind him, Oliver Bearman puts Haas on the board with a 7th place, and rookie Arvid Lindblad scores his first F1 points in his very first race — an 8th place that confirms the positive impressions from practice.

Isack Hadjar, meanwhile, retires due to an engine failure. He was battling for the top positions at the time of the exit. First GP, first blown engine for the Red Bull-Ford unit. The timing is cruel.

McLaren in Difficulty: Piastri Absent, Norris Fatalistic

McLaren's day unfolds in two acts. Act one: Oscar Piastri puts his car into the wall during the formation lap, before the lights even go out. The damage is too severe; he doesn't start his home Grand Prix. "I'm trying to understand what really happened, that's the most important thing," he tells Canal+ . He adds: "I'm sorry for the fans. I would have liked to show what I can do."

Act two: Norris finishes 5th, just ahead of Verstappen, and handles the frustration with his usual irony. "What can I say? 'Ah, that was great, lots of fun, and