Lando Norris Claims Victory in Chaotic Australian Grand Prix
The opening race of the 75th Formula 1 World Championship sees unpredictable conditions affecting the field at Melbourne's Albert Park.
The 2023 Formula 1 season commenced at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia, where competitors faced erratic weather conditions.
In the preliminary Formula 3 race, Ferrari academy driver Rafael Camara emerged victorious, while the planned Formula 2 support race was ultimately cancelled due to deteriorating weather.
The main F1 event, scheduled for 5 AM local time, saw all but one car start on intermediate tires, contending with a wet and tricky asphalt surface.
Early in the formation lap, rookie Isack Hadjar of the Racing Bulls crashed into the wall.
He was later consoled by Anthony Hamilton, the father of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, as he returned to the garage.
Following a 15-minute delay, the race began but quickly saw further attrition, with newcomer Jack Doohan crashing his Alpine, followed by Carlos Sainz Jr. of Williams during a safety car phase.
The race resumed after 35 minutes under the pole-sitter Lando Norris, with defending champion Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri closely positioned behind him.
In the 12th lap, race control allowed the use of Drag Reduction System (DRS) while alerting drivers of impending rain.
By the 17th lap, Verstappen began struggling with tire performance, allowing Piastri to reclaim second position.
As the race neared its midpoint, Piastri crept closer to Norris, with Verstappen trailing by more than 15 seconds.
On lap 33, Liam Lawson in another Red Bull fell victim to the two McLarens, as Fernando Alonso crashed his Aston Martin shortly thereafter.
During the ensuing safety car period, all drivers switched to dry tires.
The race was not restarted until lap 42, only for rain to return shortly thereafter.
On lap 45, both Norris and Piastri experienced slips, with Piastri coming to a stop on the grass for nearly a minute.
The situation worsened for Gabriel Bortoleto and Lawson, who also crashed, prompting another safety car deployment.
Six laps before the finish, racing resumed, with DRS re-enabled in the final three laps.
Verstappen closely followed Norris in the dying moments, but was unable to overtake.
"It was a very tough race; Max was right behind me at the end.
The conditions were difficult.
We made many mistakes last year, but we learned from them.
I had to concentrate a lot more, and I didn't make mistakes that would have cost me dearly," Norris stated following his fifth career F1 victory.
Verstappen remarked, "It was a very challenging race, but I enjoyed it.
I got close to Lando at the end, but overtaking is very difficult here.
I am glad to have finished and scored many points.
The car was where we expected it to be.
I was lacking pace compared to McLaren early on in the race." George Russell finished third, providing insight into his race.
"Congratulations to Lando; they did a great job.
It wasn't our strongest weekend, but I'm happy.
I was waiting for mistakes ahead of me, but they didn't happen.
McLaren has a huge advantage."
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, starting from 16th position, initially crossed the line fourth but was penalized with a five-second time penalty, finishing fifth behind Alexander Albon of Williams.
After a successful protest from Mercedes, Antonelli regained his fourth position post-race.
Lance Stroll placed sixth for Aston Martin, followed by Nico Hülkenberg in seventh for Sauber.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who stayed on dry tires too long, finished eighth, with Piastri climbing back to ninth after starting from the back.
Lewis Hamilton concluded his first race with Ferrari in 10th position, having also delayed switching to intermediate tires.
The championship standings will continue next week with the Chinese Grand Prix set to take place in Shanghai.
Australian Grand Prix Results:
1. LANDO NORRIS (MCLAREN) 1:42:06.304
2. MAX VERSTAPPEN (RED BULL) +0.895 seconds
3. GEORGE RUSSELL (MERCEDES) +8.481 seconds
4. ANDREA KIMI ANTONELLI (MERCEDES) +10.135 seconds
5. ALEXANDER ALBON (WILLIAMS) +12.773 seconds
6. LANCE STROLL (ASTON MARTIN) +17.413 seconds
7. NICO HÜLKENBERG (SAUBER) +18.423 seconds
8. CHARLES LECLERC (FERRARI) +19.826 seconds
9. OSCAR PIASTRI (MCLAREN) +20.448 seconds
10. LEWIS HAMILTON (FERRARI) +22.473 seconds
Drivers' Championship Standings:
1. Norris 25 points
2. Verstappen 18 points
3. Russell 15 points
Constructors' Championship Standings:
1. McLaren 27 points
2. Mercedes 27 points
3. Red Bull 18 points.
In the preliminary Formula 3 race, Ferrari academy driver Rafael Camara emerged victorious, while the planned Formula 2 support race was ultimately cancelled due to deteriorating weather.
The main F1 event, scheduled for 5 AM local time, saw all but one car start on intermediate tires, contending with a wet and tricky asphalt surface.
Early in the formation lap, rookie Isack Hadjar of the Racing Bulls crashed into the wall.
He was later consoled by Anthony Hamilton, the father of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, as he returned to the garage.
Following a 15-minute delay, the race began but quickly saw further attrition, with newcomer Jack Doohan crashing his Alpine, followed by Carlos Sainz Jr. of Williams during a safety car phase.
The race resumed after 35 minutes under the pole-sitter Lando Norris, with defending champion Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri closely positioned behind him.
In the 12th lap, race control allowed the use of Drag Reduction System (DRS) while alerting drivers of impending rain.
By the 17th lap, Verstappen began struggling with tire performance, allowing Piastri to reclaim second position.
As the race neared its midpoint, Piastri crept closer to Norris, with Verstappen trailing by more than 15 seconds.
On lap 33, Liam Lawson in another Red Bull fell victim to the two McLarens, as Fernando Alonso crashed his Aston Martin shortly thereafter.
During the ensuing safety car period, all drivers switched to dry tires.
The race was not restarted until lap 42, only for rain to return shortly thereafter.
On lap 45, both Norris and Piastri experienced slips, with Piastri coming to a stop on the grass for nearly a minute.
The situation worsened for Gabriel Bortoleto and Lawson, who also crashed, prompting another safety car deployment.
Six laps before the finish, racing resumed, with DRS re-enabled in the final three laps.
Verstappen closely followed Norris in the dying moments, but was unable to overtake.
"It was a very tough race; Max was right behind me at the end.
The conditions were difficult.
We made many mistakes last year, but we learned from them.
I had to concentrate a lot more, and I didn't make mistakes that would have cost me dearly," Norris stated following his fifth career F1 victory.
Verstappen remarked, "It was a very challenging race, but I enjoyed it.
I got close to Lando at the end, but overtaking is very difficult here.
I am glad to have finished and scored many points.
The car was where we expected it to be.
I was lacking pace compared to McLaren early on in the race." George Russell finished third, providing insight into his race.
"Congratulations to Lando; they did a great job.
It wasn't our strongest weekend, but I'm happy.
I was waiting for mistakes ahead of me, but they didn't happen.
McLaren has a huge advantage."
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, starting from 16th position, initially crossed the line fourth but was penalized with a five-second time penalty, finishing fifth behind Alexander Albon of Williams.
After a successful protest from Mercedes, Antonelli regained his fourth position post-race.
Lance Stroll placed sixth for Aston Martin, followed by Nico Hülkenberg in seventh for Sauber.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who stayed on dry tires too long, finished eighth, with Piastri climbing back to ninth after starting from the back.
Lewis Hamilton concluded his first race with Ferrari in 10th position, having also delayed switching to intermediate tires.
The championship standings will continue next week with the Chinese Grand Prix set to take place in Shanghai.
Australian Grand Prix Results:
1. LANDO NORRIS (MCLAREN) 1:42:06.304
2. MAX VERSTAPPEN (RED BULL) +0.895 seconds
3. GEORGE RUSSELL (MERCEDES) +8.481 seconds
4. ANDREA KIMI ANTONELLI (MERCEDES) +10.135 seconds
5. ALEXANDER ALBON (WILLIAMS) +12.773 seconds
6. LANCE STROLL (ASTON MARTIN) +17.413 seconds
7. NICO HÜLKENBERG (SAUBER) +18.423 seconds
8. CHARLES LECLERC (FERRARI) +19.826 seconds
9. OSCAR PIASTRI (MCLAREN) +20.448 seconds
10. LEWIS HAMILTON (FERRARI) +22.473 seconds
Drivers' Championship Standings:
1. Norris 25 points
2. Verstappen 18 points
3. Russell 15 points
Constructors' Championship Standings:
1. McLaren 27 points
2. Mercedes 27 points
3. Red Bull 18 points.
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