F1 Australia Grand Prix: Norris fends off Verstappen to win first race of year

McLaren’s Lando Norris surged to victory in a chaotic and rain-drenched Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, fending off defending champion Max Verstappen in a nail-biting finish to the season opener. The race was marred by multiple crashes and safety car interventions, with only 14 of the 20 cars making it to the checkered flag on the slippery Albert Park circuit. Mercedes’ George Russell secured third place in the treacherous conditions.

Norris, the pre-season favorite for the drivers’ title, picked up where he left off in Abu Dhabi, winning from pole position. His triumph ended Verstappen’s dominance in the championship standings, a streak that had stretched back to May 2022.

Teammate Oscar Piastri, who had started alongside Norris on the front row, saw his hopes of becoming the first home driver to win or even secure a podium slip away when he skidded into the grass, eventually finishing ninth. The victory in Melbourne marked Norris’s first at the circuit and the fifth of his career. He admitted the challenge was immense, especially with Verstappen pressuring him throughout the race.

Rain Wreaks Havoc

Torrential rain at Albert Park turned the race into a nightmare for drivers. Red Bull gambled by keeping Verstappen out on worn tyres, hoping for a break in the weather. However, they were ultimately forced to pit, likely costing Verstappen a stronger challenge against Norris. Reflecting on the strategy, Verstappen admitted, “It was worth the gamble.”

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated Ferrari debut fell flat as he finished 10th, two places behind teammate Charles Leclerc. The seven-time world champion struggled with his car, describing it as “hard to drive.” Ferrari’s late weather call backfired, though Hamilton briefly led the race on lap 47 before a costly tyre change on the soaked track dashed his chances.

Williams had a more promising outing, with Alex Albon promoted to fourth place, while Carlos Sainz’s debut for the team ended in a crash. Mercedes’ 18-year-old rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli initially finished fourth in an impressive debut but dropped to fifth due to a five-second penalty for an unsafe pit release. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll took sixth, while Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg secured seventh, bringing home valuable points.

A Day of Safety Cars and High Drama

The race saw multiple disruptions, beginning before the start when debutant Isack Hadjar lost control on the formation lap, slamming his Racing Bulls car into the wall. With his rear wing damaged beyond repair, the devastated Frenchman was left in tears as his race ended before it even began.

Australian rookie Jack Doohan followed soon after the restart, crashing his Alpine at turn six on the first lap. His father, motorcycle racing legend Mick Doohan, watched in disbelief from the team garage as the safety car was deployed. The chaos continued when Sainz spun out at turn 14 during the same safety car period.

While Norris made a clean getaway at the start, Piastri struggled for grip, allowing Verstappen to storm past on the outside. However, Verstappen’s own mistake—locking up and running wide—allowed Piastri to reclaim second place. With better pace than his teammate, Piastri looked set to challenge Norris but was instructed by McLaren to hold position until the rain passed.

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso became the fourth driver to retire after his Aston Martin crashed at turn seven on lap 34, triggering another safety car. Norris and Piastri pitted for hard tyres, but another downpour 10 laps later caused havoc. Piastri slid into the gravel and ended up on the grass, while Red Bull’s Liam Lawson and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto crashed out in quick succession, prompting a third safety car.

The late safety car gave Verstappen a final shot at catching Norris, but the Briton held his nerve to fend off the relentless Dutchman, securing the first win of the season. The victory puts Norris in the championship lead heading into round two in China.

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