Australian Oscar Piastri has missed out on a podium finish in his home grand prix, spinning out from second late in the race
Piastri had an opportunity to challenge for the race win, but had to settle for ninth as McLaren teammate Lando Norris claimed the opening race of the Formula 1 season.Â
With a burst of rain coming in the final stages, Norris and Piastri both went off the track and through the gravel.Â
Norris was able to regain his car and dive into the pits, but Piastri went sliding off into the sodden grass, after a day of poor weather at Albert Park.
Lando Norris leading the Australian Grand Prix during the early stages. (Getty Images/Formula 1: James Sutton)
Piastri fell to the rear of the field, but was able to make some late moves to place ninth.
“I’m just disappointed, obviously. I honestly don’t know what to say, really,” he told media.
“Obviously, a mistake from myself but I think for it to have the consequences that it did were a little bit unfortunate.
“I’ve only got myself to blame. I tried to push too much in those conditions. But the other 56 and three-quarter laps were very strong.
“I’m obviously very disappointed, but I think there are a lot of positives to take.”
After falling behind Verstappen on the opening lap, Piastri worked his way into winning contention when he passed the world champion on lap 17.
Cheered on by his home fans, Piastri was within DRS range and hunting Norris.
However, after an off-season where McLaren promised its drivers were free to race, the team asked Piastri not to attack until the pair had passed backmarkers.Â
But by the time Piastri had been told he was allowed to attack again, he had made a slight mistake and had fallen more than two seconds adrift of the Brit.
For Norris, the win was the fifth of his career and means he now leads the drivers’ championship for the first time.
The performance was arguably the best of his career, as he held off a fast-finishing Verstappen.Â
“It was amazing, a top race, especially with Max behind me. I was pushing, especially the last two laps — it was a little bit stressful, not going to lie,” Norris said post-race.
“Tricky conditions, but they are the ones that are enjoyable, and we ended up on top, so I’m happy.”
For the first time since 2010, the Australian Grand Prix was a wet race, with drama from the formation lap when rookie Isack Hadjar crashed and led to a 15-minute delay.
Following the delay, the first racing lap of the grand prix claimed another two drivers.
Australian rookie Jack Doohan went into the wall after it appeared he put a tyre on the painted white line while on the track, causing the vehicle to turn violently into the wall.
A few corners later, last year’s winner Carlos Sainz was in the wall, his car spinning wildly while the grid drove behind the safety car.
Lewis Hamilton had a frustrating afternoon in his Ferrari debut, finishing 10th.
Relive all the action of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in our blog below.
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16 Mar, 7:08amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 7:08am
That is all for the live blog
A drama-filled day at Albert Park has come to an end.
Oscar Piastri spun late, but recovered to finish ninth.
Jack Doohan was out after one lap.
Lando Norris held off Max Verstappen to take the win.
We thank you for joining us throughout the day.
16 Mar, 7:00amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 7:00am
Terrific result for Alex Albon in fourth
A huge congratulations to Alex Albon.
Fourth place for Williams is an enormous result.
Williams scored a total of 17 points last season.
This result gives them 12.
16 Mar, 6:46amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 6:46am
All smiles on the podium16 Mar, 6:35amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 6:35amRace report: Piastri cursed by team orders and late spin
Mixed messages from his team and a late mistake have cost Oscar Piastri a chance of winning his home grand prix, as teammate Lando Norris held his nerve to win in Melbourne.
For the first time since 2010, the Australian Grand Prix was a wet race, with drama from the formation lap when rookie Isack Hadjar crashed and led to a 15-minute delay.
Through changing conditions and multiple safety cars, Norris held firm to beat world champion Max Verstappen in second and Mercedes driver George Russell in third.
Piastri recovered from his lap 44 crash to finish ninth, passing Lewis Hamilton in the dying stages of the race to secure two championship points.
After starting second but dropping behind Verstappen on the opening lap, Piastri remained calm as he kept on the tail of the world champion.
The Australian retook second on lap 17 and then set his sights on Norris who had been terrific from pole.
But as he was approaching Norris, and with the benefit of DRS, his McLaren team asked him to back off, citing that they wanted to pair to clear backmarkers.
Piastri complied, but made a point of saying that he was quicker than the Brit.
The ifs and buts of that decision were rendered useless when Piastri went into the gravel on lap 44, which Norris also did. But Norris kept the car pointing straight, Piastri went spinning into the adjacent, sodden grass.
For Norris, the victory was his fifth of the Brit’s career.
Verstappen had DRS in the final two laps, but could not get close enough to have a genuine chance at overtaking.
“It was amazing, a top race, especially with Max behind me. I was pushing, especially the last two laps — it was a little bit stressful, not going to lie,” Norris said post-race.
“Tricky conditions, but there are the ones that are enjoyable, and we ended up on top, so I’m happy.”
Following the 15-minute delay, the first racing lap of the grand prix claimed another two drivers.
Australian rookie Jack Doohan went into the wall after it appeared he put a tyre on the paint, causing the car to turn violently into the wall.
A few corners later, last year’s winner Carlos Sainz was in the wall, his car spinning wildly while the grid drove behind the safety car.
Lewis Hamilton had a frustrating afternoon in his Ferrari debut, finishing 10th.
16 Mar, 6:26amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 6:26am
It is pouring rain again in Melbourne
There is a sea of umbrellas on the pit straight as the rain buckets down at Albert Park, drenching the already saturated fans.
16 Mar, 6:24amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 6:24am
Lando is able to cherish an enjoyable race win
Lando Norris was superb in the Melbourne rain.
He says there were nerves at the end as Max Verstappen chased, but he enjoyed the challenge.
“It was amazing, a top race, especially with Max behind me. I was pushing, especially the last two laps — it was a little bit stressful, not going to lie,” he says.
“Tricky conditions, but there are the ones that are enjoyable and we ended up on top so I’m happy.”
16 Mar, 6:17amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 6:17am
Verstappen says staying out when rain fell was worth the gamble
Max Verstappen has said the first lap where he stayed out, while Lando Norris pitted (after Oscar’s spin), was the right call.
However, staying out for a second lap was not right, but worth the gamble.
“[When] I stayed out, the first lap was alright but the weather continued. At the end of the day if we had boxed one lap earlier, we would have been P2 anyway so it was worth a gamble. It was quite spicy on the slick tyres,” he says.
“This is where I expected to be, it is 18 points more than I had here last year, so I’ll take that.”
16 Mar, 6:15amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 6:15am
George Russell very pleased with his podium finish
George Russell has spoken after his podium finish.
“It was good fun, I was quite enjoying it to be honest, hoping the two guys ahead made a mistake and I could slip through. Hope everyone enjoyed it at home.”
16 Mar, 6:08amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 6:08amOscar Piastri salvages ninth
Oscar Piastri will be a frustrated man.
He had a real chance of winning today, but his spin late from second crushed his chances.
But he recovered and rallied to complete several overtakes to claim ninth.
16 Mar, 6:00amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 6:00amLANDO NORRIS WINS THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
McLaren driver Lando Norris may have produced the best drive of his career to win a rain-affected Australian Grand Prix.
He beats world champion Max Verstappen by less than one second.
Mercedes driver George Russell claims third.
16 Mar, 5:59amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 5:59am
FINAL LAP: Max Verstappen is chasing Lando Norris
One lap left and Lando Norris leads Max Verstappen.
The McLaren is holding firm, but Verstappen has the use of DRS.
This is coming down to the wire.
16 Mar, 5:58amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 5:58am
Lap 56: Max Verstappen has DRS
Max Verstappen has DRS and has the rear wing open.
He has a lap and a half to try to catch the McLaren driver and snatch the win.
16 Mar, 5:56amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 5:56am
Lap 55: DRS enabled, Oscar Piastri into 10th
Could there be one final twist?
DRS has been enabled.
If Max Verstappen can get within one second of Lando Norris, he will be able to open his rear wing. The gap is 1.3 seconds.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri has climbed to 10th and back into the points.
16 Mar, 5:54amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 5:54am
Lap 54: Norris looking composed with race win in sight
McLaren’s Lando Norris just needs to keep his cool.
He has a 1.6-second lead to Max Verstappen. The Brit has driven magnificently today and would be a deserved winner.
16 Mar, 5:52amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 5:52amLap 52: Norris puts the foot down and we race again
Once again, Lando Norris controls the field. He has done this well twice before.
Can he do it again?
Norris goes. Verstappen chases. Lando Norris get through the first corner and builds a small gap to Verstappen.
Mercedes driver George Russell is not far away in third.
16 Mar, 5:51amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 5:51am
Lap 51: Safety Car is ending
There will be a six-lap sprint to decide the Australian Grand Prix.
16 Mar, 5:49amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 5:49am
Lap 50: Safety car still on track
It has been wild and chaotic, and we have a grandstand finish.
When the safety car comes in, Lando Norris will need to keep his composure and fend off world champion Max Verstappen.
16 Mar, 5:46amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 5:46am
Lap 48: Here is the top 10 after everyone pits for inters1.Lando Norris2.Max Verstappen3.George Russell4.Alex Albon5.Kimi Antonelli6.Lance Stroll7.Nico Hulkenberg8.Pierre Gasly9.Lewis Hamilton10.Charles Leclerc16 Mar, 5:41amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 5:41amLap 47: Verstappen pits. Teammate is out. SAFETY CAR
Red Bull told him to stay out, but it was too wet.
Good call from Verstappen to come in. He could not keep going.
Liam Lawson is in the wall. A safety car is called.
Bortoleto is also out.
16 Mar, 5:39amSun 16 Mar 2025 at 5:39amLap 46: Verstappen stays out
Max Verstappen has stayed out and is still going after everyone else pitted.
Can Verstappen do it?
He has a big lead.
Red Bull have given themselves another lap to make a decision.
Lewis Hamilton also stayed out.
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