Formula 1 roars back to life this weekend as drivers head to Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix. But will this iconic season opener really tell us what to expect for the rest of the year? Let’s dive in.
The teams have already put their 2025 cars through their paces during three days of testing in Bahrain last month.
Everyone’s trying to figure out who’s got the edge. Most insiders think McLaren looks mighty impressive, though Ferrari showed their usual testing pace. Red Bull and Mercedes hope they’re in the mix too, but Verstappen himself admitted his team still has “work to do.”
Behind the big four, Williams has turned heads with Carlos Sainz showing surprising speed in testing. But Sainz himself pointed to Alpine and Haas as potential dark horses.
One thing everyone agrees on? The field looks incredibly tight this year.
Last year’s Australian GP gave us plenty of drama. Max Verstappen started on pole but his race ended after just four laps when his rear brakes failed.
Carlos Sainz seized the opportunity in spectacular fashion. The Spaniard had his appendix removed just two weeks earlier but still managed to dominate the race. Leclerc and Norris simply couldn’t match his pace that weekend.
Mercedes had a nightmare in Melbourne last year. Lewis Hamilton couldn’t even make it out of Q2 in qualifying before his engine gave up during the race. George Russell‘s day ended even more dramatically when he crashed on the final lap after what officials deemed a “brake test” from Fernando Alonso.
Albert Park itself is a fan favorite. The circuit first appeared on the F1 calendar in 1996 and has been a fixture ever since, except for the COVID cancellations in 2020 and 2021.
The track winds through Melbourne’s beautiful Albert Park and features a mix of challenging chicanes, the unique kink of turns 11 and 12, and a technical final section. Turn 11 has become particularly crucial for overtaking since the circuit modifications made during the pandemic.
Michael Schumacher owns the most wins here with four victories, all with Ferrari. Among current drivers, Lewis Hamilton leads with two wins (2015 and 2018).
Ferrari dominates the team standings with 10 wins at Albert Park, while McLaren sits a distant second with six.
But here’s the thing about Melbourne – it’s not actually a great predictor for the championship. In the last 10 races held here, only three winners went on to become world champion that year: Hamilton (2015), Rosberg (2016), and Verstappen (2023).
Weather could shake things up dramatically this weekend. Friday looks decent with partly cloudy skies and 26°C temperatures. Saturday heats up to a scorching 34°C for qualifying.
Then comes Sunday’s race with a massive shift – temperatures dropping to 24°C with an 89% chance of rain. That could turn the grid upside down!
For UK fans, prepare for some early alarms. First and third practice sessions start at 1:30am UK time. Qualifying begins at 5:00am on Saturday, March 15, with the race starting at 4:00am on Sunday, March 16.
So who’s going to win? After testing, McLaren seems to be everyone’s favorite. Verstappen has already downplayed Red Bull’s chances, and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff seems to be managing expectations too.
In normal conditions, we might see a fascinating battle between home hero Oscar Piastri and his teammate Lando Norris – both eager to establish themselves as McLaren’s top driver.
But with rain likely on Sunday, don’t rule out a surprise. Wet conditions could give Verstappen a chance to show his exceptional skills, while Leclerc and Hamilton might extract something special from their cars too.
Who do you think will stand on the podium this weekend?
