McLaren has ominous pace, Lewis Hamilton has work to do: 5 takeaways from F1's season-opener
Lando Norris heads to the second round of the Formula 1 season in China with a lead over champion Max Verstappen after winning a thrilling race in Australia.
Ahead of Sunday's race in Shanghai, here are five takeaways from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix:
McLaren is the team to beatWithout the rain and the safety car, the Australian Grand Prix might not have been much of a contest. The two McLarens of Norris and Oscar Piastri quickly built a lead of more than 15 seconds to Verstappen in third early in the race. The McLarens were also three-tenths of a second faster than anyone else in qualifying. So much for preseason predictions that this year could be exceptionally close between multiple teams.
Norris acknowledged McLaren are favorites but warned the team shouldn't get complacent. “If you start thinking things are good and groovy, that’s when you get caught,” he said. “We will have races where we struggle.”
Hamilton and Ferrari have work to doLewis Hamilton briefly led on his Ferrari debut. Unfortunately for the seven-time champion, a strategy blunder meant Ferrari left Hamilton and his new teammate Charles Leclerc on dry tires in increasingly heavy rain. “Missed a big opportunity,” Hamilton told Ferrari over the radio. Hamilton finished 10th, two places behind Leclerc.
Hamilton and Ferrari may need to work on their communication. After more than a decade working with Peter “Bono” Bonnington at Mercedes, Hamilton was frustrated at regular radio updates from his new engineer Riccardo Adami. “Leave me to it, please,” he said repeatedly.
Lawson's old teammate may be his closest rivalNo one expected Liam Lawson, in his 12th career F1 race, to beat his four-time champion teammate Verstappen. However, Lawson also underperformed compared to Yuki Tsunoda, his old teammate, after being picked over Tsunoda for the Red Bull seat. Lawson qualified 18th and made little progress before crashing out. Tsunoda qualified fifth and was competitive, though a team strategy error meant he finished 12th. If Lawson doesn't improve, Red Bull could face even more scrutiny of its decision to pick him.
Antonelli is the standout rookieFormula 1's biggest rookie class in years struggled — with one big exception. The 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli became the second-youngest driver ever to score F1 points, behind only Verstappen, as he finished fourth with a strong drive from 16th.
Of the other drivers starting their first full F1 seasons, Lawson, Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine's Jack Doohan crashed out, Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar crashed before the start and Haas' Oliver Bearman was the last finisher in 14th.
Teamwork helps Williams make its markAlex Albon benefited from his new teammate as he finished fifth for Williams' best result since 2021. Carlos Sainz, Jr. crashed out early but joined the team staff on the pit wall to offer Albon advice over the radio on how best to handle the rapidly changing weather. “We’re a very bonded team,” Albon said.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
-
Norris leads McLaren 1-2 in Melbourne qualifying
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri delivered on McLaren's preseason promise by locking out the front row of the grid for Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.ESPN - 2d -
McLaren’s Lando Norris edges Piastri to claim pole for F1 Australian Grand Prix
Norris beat teammate by eight-hundredths of a second Max Verstappen third, Lewis Hamilton eighth in Ferrari When the gloves finally came off for the very first competitive session of the new ...The Guardian - 2d -
McLaren dominates first F1 qualifying of the season at Australian GP as Lewis Hamilton finishes eighth in Ferrari debut
McLaren finished with an impressive one-two in the first Formula 1 qualifying event of the 2025 season at the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Formula One: Australian Grand Prix qualifying – live
Updates from the F1 GP season opener in Melbourne McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will start 1-2 Any thoughts? Email Joey Will plug this a few times over the weekend as the season ...The Guardian - 2d -
Leclerc fastest in Melbourne with Hamilton fifth
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc heads the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in Friday practice at the Australian Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton in fifth.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Hamilton fifth in Melbourne with Leclerc fastest
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc heads the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in Friday practice at the Australian Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton in fifth.BBC News - 3d -
Norris holds off Verstappen to win rain-hit Australian Grand Prix
Lando Norris kept his cool in a rain-hit and incident-packed season-opening Australian Grand Prix Sunday to edge world champion Max Verstappen with Lewis Hamilton 10th on his Ferrari debut.In the ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
F1: five things we learned from season-opening Australian Grand Prix
McLaren look like having their best car in years, Hamilton’s learning curve at Ferrari and mixed report cards for rookies. Having played down a strong performance in testing, there was no way to ...The Guardian - 3h -
‘We are favourites’: McLaren are ‘team to beat’ in F1 title race, admits Lando Norris
British driver won Australian Grand Prix in season opener Norris wary of complacency: ‘if you relax, you have failed’ Britain’s Lando Norris believes he and his McLaren team are now favourites ...The Guardian - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Yahoo Fantasy Plus identifies 3 of 2025's safest starting pitchers — should you draft them at ADP?
The Fantasy Plus Experts Consensus model has identified three of the safest starting pitchers to project. Scott Pianowski reveals if he’s in or out on each player at ADP.Yahoo Sports - 8m -
Players Championship three-hole playoff: How Rory McIlroy beat J.J. Spaun, shot-by-shot
The three-hole playoff in The Players Championship, shot-by-shot, won by Rory McIlroy.Yahoo Sports - 8m -
Argentina Superstar ‘Carries’ Inter Milan On His Shoulders In Precious Atalanta Win
Lautaro Martinez led by example in Inter Milan’s dominant 2-0 away Serie A win against fellow title rivals Atalanta.According to Tuttosport via TWM, the goal in the dying moments put the icing on ...Yahoo Sports - 9m -
3 Patriots free agents still remain unsigned
The New England Patriots have three in-house free agents that have yet to be signed by another team.Yahoo Sports - 9m -
Did Xavier make March Madness? Musketeers in First Four games of 2025 NCAA Tournament
Did Xavier basketball get into March Madness on Sunday during the NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday bracket reveal show? Here's what to know:Yahoo Sports - 10m
More in Sports
-
2025 NFL free agency: Giants, Jameis Winston to meet Tuesday as team awaits Aaron Rodgers decision, per report
The Giants are visiting with multiple signal-callers as the Rodgers wait continuesCBS Sports - 2m -
2025 NFL Draft: Ranking every position group with defensive tackles at the top
What position is the deepest in the 2025 draft?CBS Sports - 5m -
Colleges with best football, men's basketball coach tandems: Kansas, Alabama in tight race for No. 1 spot
Kalen DeBoer, Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide are rising fast as the Jayhawks aim to secure their top billingCBS Sports - 5m -
Boston NWSL expansion team to change name, months after revealing Bos Nation FC branding
The Boston NWSL team is expected to begin play in 2026CBS Sports - 5m -
Yahoo Fantasy Plus identifies 3 of 2025's safest starting pitchers — should you draft them at ADP?
The Fantasy Plus Experts Consensus model has identified three of the safest starting pitchers to project. Scott Pianowski reveals if he’s in or out on each player at ADP.Yahoo Sports - 8m