It started with a spin already during the formation lap in rainy Melbourne. Debutant Isack Hadjar spun off the track. However, he got company beside the track from debutant home driver Jack Doohan and veteran Carlos Sainz Jr before the first lap was completed.
The safety car was a frequent visitor to the track, just like the competitors.
"Let me drive"
After about ten laps, the two Ferrari drivers had enough of their technicians in their earpieces. Charles Leclerc greeted: "Can you leave me alone a bit more?". Veteran Lewis Hamilton, new to Ferrari for the season, was equally tired of the instructions: "Can you let me drive, thanks?".
With a little over half the race completed and the two McLaren drivers Lando Norris and home hope Oscar Piastri in the lead, veteran Fernando Alonso spun off in his Aston Martin. New laps with the safety car. The teams took the opportunity, with different strategies, to make pit stops.
But with about ten laps left, both leading McLaren cars spun off. Home driver Oscar Piastri was stuck and out of the top, and leading Brit Lando Norris temporarily saw reigning World Champion Max Verstappen take the lead.
With nine laps left, two more debutants broke down in the wet conditions, Gabriel Bortoleto and Liam Lawson. More laps with the safety car.
"Memorable"
With six laps left, there was a gap for racing again. Then, Lando Norris, who had been strong earlier in the race, was the strongest. The Brit in McLaren held the lead all the way to the finish. Second across the finish line was reigning World Champion Max Verstappen in Red Bull, third was Brit George Russell in Mercedes.
It feels fantastic. Especially with Max behind me at the end of the last two laps. It was stressful, says Norris and continues:
We spun off, we made mistakes. But we didn't make too big mistakes. It's these races that are memorable. But it's only the first round of 24, so I hope it gives us confidence going forward.
