Australian GP: Lando Norris wins opening Formula 1 race of the season on expected lines

McLaren’s Lando Norris emerged victorious in the rain-affected Australian Grand Prix, which was his first victory at Albert Park, as the Brit steered ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after a third safety car late in Sunday’s race.

Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult Ferrari debut, as the seven-time champion ended up 10th and was visibly annoyed by the constant radio messages from his pit team.

Norris started the wet race, Melbourne’s first since 2010, from pole position. But, while he initially came under increasing pressure from Piastri, who set a series of fastest laps until his papaya team told him to hold position, the Australian spun at the penultimate corner on lap 44 with intensifying rain and dropped down the order – with a late race fightback to ninth, nabbing two points.

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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished second — 0.895 of a second behind Norris — after starting from third on the grid, and took advantage of Piastri’s misfortune and the final safety car and stops. Mercedes’ George Russell closed out the top-three.

The Melbourne race had a thrilling start with Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar out on the formation lap, and Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Williams’ Carlos Sainz — who won here last year driving for Ferrari — crashing out on the opening lap.

There were just 14 finishers, after Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso hit the turn eight barriers on lap 34, while Red Bull’s Liam Lawson and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto went into the barriers and out of the race 10 laps from home in treacherously wet conditions at the Albert Park circuit.