Lando Norris wins rain-affected Australian Grand Prix as Max Verstappen chases and Lewis Hamilton struggles

Lando Norris claimed victory in a chaotic Australian Grand Prix, fending off Max Verstappen.

McLaren’s Lando Norris clinched victory at a dramatic and rain-affected Australian Grand Prix, narrowly holding off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in a race marked by three safety car interventions. The chaotic season opener at Albert Park saw several incidents as wet conditions challenged drivers on Sunday.

Starting from pole position, Norris initially faced pressure from McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, who was setting the fastest laps before being told to hold position. However, worsening rain led to Piastri spinning at the penultimate corner on lap 44, dropping him down the order. He recovered to finish ninth after a late-race push, overtaking Lewis Hamilton on the final lap.

With Piastri falling behind, Verstappen capitalized on the reshuffled grid and the final safety car period to close in on Norris. However, the McLaren driver held his ground to win by just 0.895 seconds. Mercedes’ George Russell secured third, marking his first podium since his Las Vegas Grand Prix win last season.

Hamilton’s much-anticipated Ferrari debut proved frustrating, as the seven-time world champion finished 10th. He expressed annoyance over frequent radio communications from his pit crew throughout the race. Ferrari, historically dominant in Melbourne with 11 wins, struggled overall, with Charles Leclerc managing only an eighth-place finish.

Mercedes showed strong form, with Russell on the podium and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivering an impressive fightback from 16th on the grid to finish fifth. Williams’ Alex Albon secured his best result since Abu Dhabi 2020, while Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll climbed from 13th to sixth.

The race saw multiple retirements, including Fernando Alonso, Liam Lawson, and Carlos Sainz, who crashed out on the opening lap. After an unpredictable start to the season, teams now turn their focus to the Chinese Grand Prix, where Ferrari will look to recover, and Norris will aim to build on his early momentum.