Lando Norris set the pace as the 2025 Formula 1 season roared to life with Free Practice 1 at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, leading the session ahead of Williams’ Carlos Sainz. The McLaren driver, who had downplayed his team’s pre-season expectations, showed flashes of the speed many believe could propel him to a maiden title. However, the session wasn’t without drama, as British rookie Oliver Bearman suffered a heavy crash, making it a tough start to his full-time F1 career with Haas.
What To Know
- Norris Leads – Lando Norris topped the timesheets for McLaren in the first practice session of the 2025 F1 season.
- Hamilton Struggles – Lewis Hamilton finished 12th in his Ferrari debut, six-tenths behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
- Bearman Crashes – Rookie Oliver Bearman suffered a heavy crash in his Haas, causing a red flag.
With nearly a quarter of the grid made up of fresh faces, the season opener carried an extra layer of excitement. Red Bull’s Liam Lawson, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, Alpine’s Jack Doohan, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, and Haas’ Bearman all began their first full F1 campaigns. Meanwhile, the buzz surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated Ferrari debut reached its peak as the seven-time World Champion took to the track in the iconic Scuderia red. Under clear blue skies at Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit, the talking stopped, and the action began as the 20-car field got their first real taste of the 2025 season.
As expected, every driver wasted no time heading out onto the track within the opening 10 minutes, eager to get a feel for the conditions and shake down their cars at the start of the new season.
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Norris set the benchmark in the closing moments of the session, clocking a 1:17.252 for McLaren to finish 0.149s ahead of Carlos Sainz, who made an immediate impact for Williams following his switch from Ferrari.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated first session for Ferrari ended with a 12th-place finish, six-tenths behind teammate Charles Leclerc, who secured third. Over team radio, the seven-time world champion admitted he was “struggling” to turn the SF-25, highlighting early challenges with his new car.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was fourth, four-tenths off Norris, while Max Verstappen began his bid for a fifth consecutive title with a fifth-place finish for Red Bull.
Alex Albon underlined Williams’ strong pace by securing sixth, while Mercedes’ George Russell finished seventh despite a late spin at Turn 4, narrowly avoiding the barriers.
Rookie Oliver Bearman, in his first full season with Haas, triggered the second red flag of the session after losing control at Turn 10 and crashing into the barrier.
The session saw multiple interruptions, including an earlier delay to clear gravel kicked up at Turn 6, ultimately costing the field nearly a third of the hour-long run time.
Liam Lawson, making his full-time Red Bull debut alongside Verstappen, had an early scare after clipping the wall at Turn 9 but finished 16th.
Among the six rookies, Isack Hadjar was the standout, taking ninth for Racing Bulls, while Alpine’s Jack Doohan, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto placed 13th, 14th and 15th, respectively.
2025 Australian GP FP1 Results
2025 Australian Grand Prix FP1, 14 March 2025
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