Lando Norris of McLaren emerged victorious in a thrilling race to kick off the Formula 1 season in Australia. Norris navigated challenging conditions and held off reigning champion Max Verstappen to secure a triumphant win, earning the maximum 25 points to start his season on a high note. Starting from pole position after McLaren’s strong qualifying performance, Norris was cautious of Verstappen’s threat from third on the grid. In a race marked by safety car interventions and late rain, Norris maintained a slim lead over Verstappen until the very end, crossing the finish line just 0.895 seconds ahead. Reflecting on his win, Norris acknowledged the pressure of Verstappen’s pursuit but expressed his joy at the season’s start. Despite admitting to some imperfections in his performance, Norris credited his team for learning from past mistakes, enabling him to clinch victory. George Russell of Mercedes secured third place on the podium, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton faced a challenging debut, finishing in tenth position. With eyes on improvement, Hamilton and Ferrari aim to bounce back in the upcoming races. The F1 season continues in China next week, with the race scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on March 23.
