Australian GP: Five quick takeaways

This is what we thought after the primary race of the season…

McLaren is certainly sturdy

Though the profitable margin wasn’t that huge, there’s an overriding feeling after Australia that on a dry observe the papaya vehicles would have disappeared into the space.

For now, the conclusion that McLaren would be the group to beat in 2025 nonetheless stands. Nonetheless, to place the favorite tag on Lando Norris and his group, we’ll have to attend for the primary ‘regular’ race… This Sunday in Melbourne was just too loopy.

– Oleg Karpov

By no means write off Verstappen, even when he does it himself

Max Verstappen was clear earlier than he left for Australia: “In the mean time just one [team can win], and that group is orange!” Even earlier than qualifying, he did not suppose Pink Bull could be ready to problem for the rostrum, not to mention victory. With Helmut Marko predicting a second row was attainable, Verstappen feared Pink Bull wouldn’t even make Q3.

P3 on the grid could have value his father a wager towards Marko, however extra importantly, it confirmed that with Verstappen, Pink Bull is able to battle. That was much more the case within the Australian rain. Verstappen as soon as once more confirmed his talents within the moist, pushing Norris till the final lap.

– Ronald Vording

Williams’ tempo is actual

Williams has been one of many greatest surprises of winter testing. James Vowles insists in each interview that his group’s focus is on 2026 and past, however the group is able to seize some huge outcomes this yr. Carlos Sainz crashed out early within the Australian Grand Prix, however Alexander Albon saved the day for the Grove-based group – and much more so!

At each the Bahrain check and the Melbourne qualifying session, Williams confirmed its true tempo within the dry after which added a formidable efficiency within the moist. Albon’s fourth place at Albert Park is already a giant outcome within the constructors’ championship and this primary race has made it very clear: there’s extra to return from Williams this season.

– Ronald Vording

Expertise continues to be wanted

It wasn’t the simplest weekend for the rookies, and whereas the F1 2025 newcomers are all extraordinarily proficient, expertise was undoubtedly wanted on a wet Sunday afternoon in Melbourne. Isack Hadjar crashed on the formation lap, Jack Doohan simply seconds after the beginning, and Gabriel Bortoleto could not maintain his automotive out of the partitions ultimately. It wasn’t a straightforward weekend for Oliver Bearman both, as he bumped into hassle as early as Friday. Liam Lawson, who can also be beginning his first full season in F1, could not put collectively lap in qualifying and ended up crashing into the wall within the race.

Jack Doohan, Alpine crash

Picture by: James Sutton / Motorsport Photos

Do not choose them too harshly simply but, although. Melbourne is a difficult observe to start out a brand new season on as a rookie, particularly with the rain on Sunday. The errors made by the likes of Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso present that it wasn’t straightforward for anybody. However for some drivers, resembling Doohan and Lawson, the stress can be even larger any longer…

– Oleg Karpov

Antonelli exhibits why he is the true deal

Appears like he realized the correct classes from his peculiar and temporary look at Monza final yr: Andrea Kimi Antonelli makes his System 1 debut in Melbourne, ending a robust fourth! He misplaced a place afterward as a consequence of an unsafe launch by his group, however that does not take away from the 18-year-old’s spectacular debut.

Of the six rookies (together with Lawson and Bearman), solely two completed the race – and Antonelli was the one one to attain factors. This exhibits why Toto Wolff thinks so extremely of him: sure, Antonelli spun within the tough circumstances, however apart from that, he did not put a foot fallacious and stayed out of the chaos in a really difficult Grand Prix – a very sturdy first efficiency!

– Frederik Hackbarth