A chaotic opening round of the Formula 1 season in Australia saw McLaren pilot Lando Norris emerge victorious, with title defender Max Verstappen of Red Bull in second and George Russell of Mercedes completing the podium.
The race at the Albert Park Circuit was marked from the start by slippery conditions, as the rain transformed the track into a challenging slippery surface. Even in the formation lap, rookie Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls lost control of his vehicle and was forced to retire from the race early. The race was further disrupted by multiple safety car periods triggered by accidents and spins, which kept the field in disarray. Ultimately, Norris, who had started from pole position, managed to hold his nerve and secure the win after a hard-fought battle with Verstappen. Only 14 drivers were able to complete the race.
Behind the podium finishers, Alex Albon of Williams, Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, Lance Stroll of Aston Martin, Nico Hülkenberg of Sauber and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari occupied the points-scoring positions. Oscar Piastri of McLaren secured two points for the championship standings with a ninth-place finish, while Lewis Hamilton, in his first race for Ferrari, took a single point with a tenth-place finish. The next race is scheduled for a week’s time in China.