The 2025 Formula 1 season kicked off with an eventful first practice session for the Australian Grand Prix at the iconic Albert Park circuit. McLaren’s Lando Norris ultimately claimed the top spot in a session marked by two red flag interruptions, providing an early glimpse into the competitive landscape of the new season. Bright sunshine bathed the Melbourne track, setting the stage for an intriguing start to the weekend’s proceedings.
Anticipation was palpable as cars hit the track for the first official timed session of the year. Drivers wasted no time pushing the limits, with lap times quickly surpassing the fastest benchmark set in last year’s opening practice session. By the time the chequered flag waved, every team except Haas had demonstrated improved pace compared to the previous season’s early running, highlighting the advancements made over the winter break and signalling a potentially thrilling season ahead.
The session commenced with a flurry of activity, as most teams opted to begin their runs on the medium compound tyres. Charles Leclerc, behind the wheel of his Ferrari, was among the first to establish a strong rhythm, setting a competitive early pace. However, his new team mate, Lewis Hamilton, appeared to struggle initially, reporting difficulties with the turn-in of his car – an early indication that the seven-time champion was still finding his comfort zone in the SF-25. Meanwhile, the reigning world champion Max Verstappen in his Red Bull, along with the McLaren duo of Norris and Oscar Piastri, consistently challenged for the fastest times, showcasing their strong form on the medium rubber.
As the session progressed and teams transitioned to the softer tyre compounds, the leaderboard underwent a significant shuffle. It was Carlos Sainz Jnr, now driving for Williams-Mercedes, who made a striking impression. He unleashed a blistering lap of 1’17.401, catapulting his FW47 to the top of the timing sheets and momentarily stunning the paddock with his unexpected pace. This performance underlined the potential for surprises and the tight competition expected throughout the 2025 season.
However, the session’s dynamic shifted dramatically just moments after Sainz’s impressive run. Rookie driver Oliver Bearman, making his practice debut for Haas, suffered a significant crash at the exit of Turn 10. The young Briton ran wide, losing control as he attempted to rejoin the track and making heavy impact with the unforgiving barrier on the outside of the circuit. Bearman’s VF-47 came to a halt with considerable damage to its right-hand side, with both right-side wheels detached from the chassis. Fortunately, Bearman emerged from the incident physically unharmed, but the extensive damage to his car brought out the first major red flag of the session. He was quick to apologise to his team over the radio, acknowledging the unfortunate error.
The incident caused a lengthy delay as marshals worked meticulously to clear the debris and recover Bearman’s heavily damaged car. This disruption significantly reduced the available track time for teams, adding pressure to their preparation programmes. When the session finally resumed, a mere 10 minutes remained on the clock, setting the stage for a frantic final dash for lap times. It was during this compressed period that Lando Norris capitalised, demonstrating McLaren’s strong pace. He delivered a superb lap, narrowly displacing Sainz from the summit of the timings. His final run wasn’t without drama, however, as he encountered Yuki Tsunoda at the very last corner while preparing for his flying lap, leading to a brief but intense tussle for track position over the subsequent two turns.
When the chequered flag ultimately fell for the final time, Lando Norris’s 1’17.252 stood unchallenged at the top, confirming his impressive performance. Carlos Sainz Jnr held onto a remarkable second place for Williams, showcasing excellent potential. Charles Leclerc secured third position for Ferrari, continuing to demonstrate the Scuderia’s competitiveness. McLaren’s strong showing was further reinforced by Oscar Piastri, who claimed fourth place in the sister MCL39, delighting the home crowd. Max Verstappen, who opted for a late switch back to medium tyres, settled for fifth, suggesting he might have had more pace if he had stayed on the softs.
Behind the top five, Alexander Albon continued Williams’s promising start, placing sixth in the second FW47. George Russell secured seventh for Mercedes, albeit after a harmless spin at Turn 4 late in the session, which briefly sent him off track but caused no significant issues. Veteran driver Fernando Alonso demonstrated Aston Martin’s consistency, slotting into eighth. Rookie Isack Hadjar, making his debut for Racing Bulls, finished ninth, though he radioed his team with some dissatisfaction regarding his fastest lap, indicating a desire for more. Lance Stroll rounded out the top 10 for Aston Martin, ensuring both their cars featured prominently.
Further down the order, Lewis Hamilton finished 12th for Ferrari, still evidently grappling with the intricacies of his new machinery. Two places behind him, in 14th, was his replacement at Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, also making his F1 practice debut. The two were separated by Jack Doohan, who, in his Alpine, caused the session’s earlier, albeit brief, red flag. Doohan’s off-track excursion at Turn 6 dragged gravel onto the circuit, prompting a swift stoppage for safety reasons before Bearman’s more dramatic incident. Other notable rookie appearances included Gabriel Bortoleto for Sauber and Liam Lawson for Red Bull, gaining valuable experience in their respective machines. The session thus proved to be a mixed bag of promising performances, early challenges, and dramatic incidents, setting a vibrant tone for the Australian Grand Prix weekend.
2025 Australian Grand Prix First Practice Result
| P. | # | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL39 | 1’17.252 | 21 | |
| 2 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Williams-Mercedes | FW47 | 1’17.401 | 0.149 | 25 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-25 | 1’17.461 | 0.209 | 21 |
| 4 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL39 | 1’17.670 | 0.418 | 20 |
| 5 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB21 | 1’17.696 | 0.444 | 21 |
| 6 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW47 | 1’17.713 | 0.461 | 18 |
| 7 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W16 | 1’17.716 | 0.464 | 26 |
| 8 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR25 | 1’17.736 | 0.484 | 23 |
| 9 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls-Honda RBPT | 02 | 1’17.847 | 0.595 | 25 |
| 10 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR25 | 1’18.057 | 0.805 | 20 |
| 11 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls-Honda RBPT | 02 | 1’18.061 | 0.809 | 23 |
| 12 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | SF-25 | 1’18.071 | 0.819 | 20 |
| 13 | 7 | Jack Doohan | Alpine-Renault | A525 | 1’18.232 | 0.980 | 20 |
| 14 | 12 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | W16 | 1’18.390 | 1.138 | 25 |
| 15 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber-Ferrari | C45 | 1’18.438 | 1.186 | 22 |
| 16 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB21 | 1’18.455 | 1.203 | 22 |
| 17 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | A525 | 1’18.505 | 1.253 | 23 |
| 18 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber-Ferrari | C45 | 1’18.586 | 1.334 | 18 |
| 19 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas-Ferrari | VF-25 | 1’19.139 | 1.887 | 16 |
| 20 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas-Ferrari | VF-25 | 1’19.312 | 2.060 | 12 |
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