4 hours ago 1

Australian GP: All you need to know ahead of the first race of 2025

ESPN

Mar 12, 2025, 12:28 PM ET

Formula 1 has arrived in Melbourne for the opening race of the season at Albert Park.

Sunday's grand prix is the first time all 20 drivers from 10 teams will line up together on the grid for the 2025 season.

All eyes are on Lewis Hamilton, this weekend, as he takes on his first race for F1's most successful team, Ferrari. Other drivers to watch are the six rookies who are part of new driver pairings at eight teams, excluding Aston Martin and McLaren.

No Australian driver has won a home grand prix, or been on the podium. McLaren came out of preseason testing in February looking like the strongest team, so could Lando Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri end that statistic after 40 years?

Friday is expected to be warm and settled with temperatures around 24°C, rising to 31°C on Saturday, while there's a chance of rain on Sunday.

Latest news

Lewis Hamilton has recreated the scene from 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', watch the clip. Hamilton also insisted the pressure on him to perform at Ferrari is coming from himself and not from elsewhere.

Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc said he has no issue with Hamilton being the focus of the media's attention, and no driver is bigger than the team.

Toto Wolff has said Max Verstappen is no longer on his radar, adding he's entering talks with George Russell over a contract renewall: "I don't flirt outside if I'm in a good relationship." Meanwhile, Verstappen downplayed Red Bull's chances of winning in Melbourne, saying the car is not quick enough yet.

McLaren believe Norris and Piastri can co-exist without problems as the team goes into the new season as favourites, but Norris dismissed that McLaren are seen as favourites and said he's surprised people are making "conclusions before we've even started the season."

Aussie driver and F1 rookie Jack Doohan said he's aware his seat is under threat by all four of Alpine's reserve drivers, not just Franco Colapinto, as he heads into a home grand prix, under pressure to perform.

Piastri has committed his long-term future to McLaren after signing a multiyear contract extension beyond 2026.

Listen to the season preview and latest episode of Unlapped.

Circuit stats and history

Adelaide held the Australian Grand Prix between 1985-1995 and it served as the season finale in November of each year. Although it was successful, with 210,000 people attending the final race, it became too expensive to run and Melbourne took over as host the following year.

The Albert Park street circuit has regularly served as the season opening race with drivers and fans alike enjoying the carnival atmosphere and buzz that arrives in Melbourne each autumn in March.

The circuit is one of the fastest on the calendar and consistently provides a spectactle fitting for the excitement of a new season.

First race: 1996

Laps: 58 laps of 5.2km. Total race distance: 306km.

Lap record: 1:19.813, Leclerc (2024)

Most wins: Michael Schumacher with four (2002-2002, 2004). Of the current grid Hamilton (2008, 2015), Leclerc (2022), Verstappen (2023), Carlos Sainz (2024) have all won here.

Most poles: Hamilton with eight (2008, 2012, 2014-2019). Of the current grid Leclerc (2022) and Verstappen (2023) have also been on pole here.

What makes it special: A parkland circuit with a mix of fast corners and unforgiving walls. The Australian hosts also provide the perfect party atmosphere to start the season.

What the drivers say about it: "The atmosphere in Melbourne is always unreal, and the track is fun and fast." -- Daniel Ricciardo

Where to watch from: Turns 9 and 10. It's the fastest section of the circuit with very little margin for error. The direction change underlines the remarkable performance of an F1 car, and there is a general admission area on the outside of Turn 9 for easy viewing.

Australian Grand Prix

What happened last year?

Last year's Australian Grand Prix saw a stunning turn of events as Sainz won for Ferrari two weeks on from an appendicitis.

Verstappen dramatically retired in the early moments of the race with a brake fire, and the race ended under virtual safety car as Russell crashed on the final lap.

Who will win?

You could make a compelling case for any driver among the top four teams winning in Melbourne. But some are still more likely than others, and based on testing, chatter during preseason, and form from 2024 Norris has to be the favourite.