How Norris managed the pressure filled the Australian header

The 2025 Australia Grand Prix was the most dramatic race of Formula 1 that Albert Park has seen and winner Lando Norris remained calm throughout the chaos.

Despite the significant challenges of Home Hero and McLaren, Oscar Piastri, an energetic Max Verstappen defense champion and Mother Nature, Norris won a first game of the season to give McLaren the advantage of the driver championship for the first time in 13 years.

In a season in which McLaren seems to be a team to win, both Norris and Piasstri were desperate to give the first blow in the fight for the 2025 title.

Although the Australian did almost everything good, his most experienced teammate had an advantage.

After denying the pole hero hero at 0.084s, the closest margin in Albert Park since 2004, Norris controlled most of the race, but not without some nervous moments.

After overcoming the early wet climate, Piastri hunted it and cut a deficit of 3s, only for the team to discard a battle when they found laundering traffic.

Then there was the time now in which both McLarens turned around 12, having been caught by a sudden shower in Slicks.

One kept it in the racing line and one was not so lucky the devastation of the local crowd, Norris clung and faced.

Despite sacrificing the position of the track, a dramatic series of turns where the full field faces the intermediates saw Norris again in control, but with Verstappen breathing around the neck by the late explosion to the flag and sustained for eight tenths.

With so much in progress, Norris admitted that it was a race that McLaren would have thrown before being champions of builders last year.

“I mean, starting the season with a victory is good enough, but doing so in such a stressful race, where it is so easy to make a mistake and ruin everything.

“Many difficult moments.

“But, you know, we work hard during the winter to prepare for a race like this because we throw many opportunities last season, Canada, Silverstone, where we were not the best to prepare and know how decisive we have to be and today we were very decisive.

“Calling the box five minutes before I was boxing, but it was the right call at the end, and that won the race.

As expected, Norris identified the savage in curve 12 as the greatest stress test of the day full of events.

“If speed 11 decreases, it may be perfect;

“You have to do many things on the fly and simply wings.

“Obviously, I entered a bit fast because of the amount of rain and I have completely gone.

“I managed to stop around the corner, but I looked in my mirror while I went and I saw Oscar go through the gravel too, and Max caught me.

“It is a very stressful moment because everything could have gone badly there.

“If I stayed on the road, I think Max would probably have happened to me because I was in the middle and probably in a better window than me with the hard.

“But we boxed, and then half of the track was completely dry, and half was wet, as a kind of spa race.

“You don’t know how much to push in the drill drill because you destroy the interest quickly.

“I think that’s why I fought a bit at the end of the race: my interests were a bit destroyed since when I was still dry.

“Many things to take into account, so doing everything and dealing with the stress of the good way was very pleasant.”

It will be interesting to see if McLaren is just as strong in Shanghai this weekend.

Photo of Clive Mason/Getty Images

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An Introduction to Formula One (F1)
Formula One, or F1, is the highest class of single-seater auto racing, governed by the Fédération Internationale de l\'Automobile (FIA) and is owned by Liberty Media. The name "Formula One" refers to the set of rules or formula that all cars and drivers must comply with.

The F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held on purpose-built circuits or public roads around the world. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual championships: one for drivers and one for constructors (teams).

The history of Formula One can be traced back to the pre-war Grand Prix racing, which featured open-wheel cars with supercharged engines. The first World Championship of Drivers was organised by the FIA in 1950, following the end of World War II. The first race was held at Silverstone, England, and was won by Giuseppe Farina, driving an Alfa Romeo. The first constructors\' championship was introduced in 1958 and was won by Vanwall.

Formula One has seen many changes and innovations over the years, both in terms of technology and regulations. Some of the most notable developments include the introduction of rear-engined cars in the late 1950s, the use of aerodynamic wings in the late 1960s, the adoption of turbocharged engines in the late 1970s, the emergence of electronic driver aids in the late 1980s, the switch to V10 and then V8 engines in the 1990s and 2000s, and the introduction of hybrid power units in 2014.

Formula One has also produced some of the greatest drivers and rivalries in the history of motorsport. Some of the most famous names include Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel. Some of the most intense battles for the championship have been between Fangio and Stirling Moss in the 1950s, Lauda and James Hunt in the 1970s, Senna and Prost in the late 1980s, Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen in the late 1990s, and Hamilton and Vettel in the 2010s.

Formula One is widely regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport, attracting millions of fans and viewers worldwide. The sport is also a huge business, involving billions of dollars in revenue and expenditure. The teams compete for prize money, sponsorship deals, and media rights, while the drivers earn millions of dollars in salaries and endorsements. The sport is also influenced by politics, regulations, and controversies, such as doping scandals, espionage cases, safety issues, and environmental concerns.

The following is a list of all F1 World Drivers Champions by year, from 1950 to 2020:
1950-1959
1950: Giuseppe Farina (Italy) - Alfa Romeo 158, Alfa Romeo

1951: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Alfa Romeo 159, Alfa Romeo

1952: Alberto Ascari (Italy) - Ferrari 500, Ferrari

1953: Alberto Ascari (Italy) - Ferrari 500, Ferrari

1954: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Maserati 250F, Maserati / Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz

1955: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz

1956: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Ferrari D50, Ferrari

1957: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Maserati 250F, Maserati

1958: Mike Hawthorn (United Kingdom) - Ferrari 246, Ferrari

1959: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Cooper T51, Cooper-Climax
1960-1969
1960: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Cooper T53, Cooper-Climax

1961: Phil Hill (United States) - Ferrari 156, Ferrari

1962: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) - BRM P57, BRM

1963: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) - Lotus 25, Lotus-Climax

1964: John Surtees (United Kingdom) - Ferrari 158, Ferrari

1965: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) - Lotus 33, Lotus-Climax

1966: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Brabham BT19, Brabham-Repco

1967: Denny Hulme (New Zealand) - Brabham BT20, Brabham-Repco

1968: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) - Lotus 49, Lotus-Ford

1969: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Matra MS80, Matra-Ford
1970-1979
1970: Jochen Rindt (Austria) - Lotus 72, Lotus-Ford

1971: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Tyrrell 003, Tyrrell-Ford

1972: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) - Lotus 72D, Lotus-Ford

1973: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Tyrrell 006, Tyrrell-Ford

1974: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) - McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford

1975: Niki Lauda (Austria) - Ferrari 312T, Ferrari

1976: James Hunt (United Kingdom) - McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford

1977: Niki Lauda (Austria) - Ferrari 312T2, Ferrari

1978: Mario Andretti (United States) - Lotus 79, Lotus-Ford

1979: Jody Scheckter (South Africa) - Ferrari 312T4, Ferrari
1980-1989
1980: Alan Jones (Australia) - Williams FW07B, Williams-Ford

1981: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Brabham BT49C, Brabham-Ford

1982: Keke Rosberg (Finland) - Williams FW08, Williams-Ford

1983: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Brabham BT52, Brabham-BMW

1984: Niki Lauda (Austria) - McLaren MP4/2, McLaren-TAG

1985: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/2B, McLaren-TAG

1986: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/2C, McLaren-TAG

1987: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Williams FW11B, Williams-Honda

1988: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/4, McLaren-Honda

1989: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/5, McLaren-Honda
1990-1999
1990: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/5B, McLaren-Honda

1991: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/6, McLaren-Honda

1992: Nigel Mansell (United Kingdom) - Williams FW14B, Williams-Renault

1993: Alain Prost (France) - Williams FW15C, Williams-Renault

1994: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Benetton B194, Benetton-Ford

1995: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Benetton B195, Benetton-Renault

1996: Damon Hill (United Kingdom) - Williams FW18, Williams-Renault

1997: Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) - Williams FW19, Williams-Renault

1998: Mika Häkkinen (Finland) - McLaren MP4/13, McLaren-Mercedes

1999: Mika Häkkinen (Finland) - McLaren MP4/14, McLaren-Mercedes
2000-2009
2000: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F1-2000, Ferrari

2001: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2001, Ferrari

2002: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2002, Ferrari

2003: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2003-GA, Ferrari

2004: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2004, Ferrari

2005: Fernando Alonso (Spain) - Renault R25, Renault

2006: Fernando Alonso (Spain) - Renault R26, Renault

2007: Kimi Räikkönen (Finland) - Ferrari F2007, Ferrari

2008: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - McLaren MP4-23, McLaren-Mercedes

2009: Jenson Button (United Kingdom) - Brawn BGP 001, Brawn-Mercedes
2010-2020
2010: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB6, Red Bull-Renault

2011: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB7, Red Bull-Renault

2012: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB8, Red Bull-Renault

2013: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB9, Red Bull-Renault

2014: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid, Mercedes

2015: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid, Mercedes

2016: Nico Rosberg (Germany) - Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid, Mercedes

2017: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W08 EQ Power+, Mercedes

2018: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W09 EQ Power+, Mercedes

2019: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W10 EQ Power+, Mercedes

2020: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W11 EQ Power+, Mercedes
2021-
2021: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB16B, Honda

2022: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB18, Red Bull Power Trains Honda

2023: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB19, Red Bull Power Trains Honda

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An Introduction to Formula One (F1)
Formula One, or F1, is the highest class of single-seater auto racing, governed by the Fédération Internationale de l\'Automobile (FIA) and is owned by Liberty Media. The name "Formula One" refers to the set of rules or formula that all cars and drivers must comply with.

The F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held on purpose-built circuits or public roads around the world. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual championships: one for drivers and one for constructors (teams).

The history of Formula One can be traced back to the pre-war Grand Prix racing, which featured open-wheel cars with supercharged engines. The first World Championship of Drivers was organised by the FIA in 1950, following the end of World War II. The first race was held at Silverstone, England, and was won by Giuseppe Farina, driving an Alfa Romeo. The first constructors\' championship was introduced in 1958 and was won by Vanwall.

Formula One has seen many changes and innovations over the years, both in terms of technology and regulations. Some of the most notable developments include the introduction of rear-engined cars in the late 1950s, the use of aerodynamic wings in the late 1960s, the adoption of turbocharged engines in the late 1970s, the emergence of electronic driver aids in the late 1980s, the switch to V10 and then V8 engines in the 1990s and 2000s, and the introduction of hybrid power units in 2014.

Formula One has also produced some of the greatest drivers and rivalries in the history of motorsport. Some of the most famous names include Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel. Some of the most intense battles for the championship have been between Fangio and Stirling Moss in the 1950s, Lauda and James Hunt in the 1970s, Senna and Prost in the late 1980s, Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen in the late 1990s, and Hamilton and Vettel in the 2010s.

Formula One is widely regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport, attracting millions of fans and viewers worldwide. The sport is also a huge business, involving billions of dollars in revenue and expenditure. The teams compete for prize money, sponsorship deals, and media rights, while the drivers earn millions of dollars in salaries and endorsements. The sport is also influenced by politics, regulations, and controversies, such as doping scandals, espionage cases, safety issues, and environmental concerns.

The following is a list of all F1 World Drivers Champions by year, from 1950 to 2020:
1950-1959
1950: Giuseppe Farina (Italy) - Alfa Romeo 158, Alfa Romeo

1951: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Alfa Romeo 159, Alfa Romeo

1952: Alberto Ascari (Italy) - Ferrari 500, Ferrari

1953: Alberto Ascari (Italy) - Ferrari 500, Ferrari

1954: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Maserati 250F, Maserati / Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz

1955: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz

1956: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Ferrari D50, Ferrari

1957: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Maserati 250F, Maserati

1958: Mike Hawthorn (United Kingdom) - Ferrari 246, Ferrari

1959: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Cooper T51, Cooper-Climax
1960-1969
1960: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Cooper T53, Cooper-Climax

1961: Phil Hill (United States) - Ferrari 156, Ferrari

1962: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) - BRM P57, BRM

1963: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) - Lotus 25, Lotus-Climax

1964: John Surtees (United Kingdom) - Ferrari 158, Ferrari

1965: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) - Lotus 33, Lotus-Climax

1966: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Brabham BT19, Brabham-Repco

1967: Denny Hulme (New Zealand) - Brabham BT20, Brabham-Repco

1968: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) - Lotus 49, Lotus-Ford

1969: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Matra MS80, Matra-Ford
1970-1979
1970: Jochen Rindt (Austria) - Lotus 72, Lotus-Ford

1971: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Tyrrell 003, Tyrrell-Ford

1972: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) - Lotus 72D, Lotus-Ford

1973: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Tyrrell 006, Tyrrell-Ford

1974: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) - McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford

1975: Niki Lauda (Austria) - Ferrari 312T, Ferrari

1976: James Hunt (United Kingdom) - McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford

1977: Niki Lauda (Austria) - Ferrari 312T2, Ferrari

1978: Mario Andretti (United States) - Lotus 79, Lotus-Ford

1979: Jody Scheckter (South Africa) - Ferrari 312T4, Ferrari
1980-1989
1980: Alan Jones (Australia) - Williams FW07B, Williams-Ford

1981: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Brabham BT49C, Brabham-Ford

1982: Keke Rosberg (Finland) - Williams FW08, Williams-Ford

1983: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Brabham BT52, Brabham-BMW

1984: Niki Lauda (Austria) - McLaren MP4/2, McLaren-TAG

1985: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/2B, McLaren-TAG

1986: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/2C, McLaren-TAG

1987: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Williams FW11B, Williams-Honda

1988: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/4, McLaren-Honda

1989: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/5, McLaren-Honda
1990-1999
1990: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/5B, McLaren-Honda

1991: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/6, McLaren-Honda

1992: Nigel Mansell (United Kingdom) - Williams FW14B, Williams-Renault

1993: Alain Prost (France) - Williams FW15C, Williams-Renault

1994: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Benetton B194, Benetton-Ford

1995: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Benetton B195, Benetton-Renault

1996: Damon Hill (United Kingdom) - Williams FW18, Williams-Renault

1997: Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) - Williams FW19, Williams-Renault

1998: Mika Häkkinen (Finland) - McLaren MP4/13, McLaren-Mercedes

1999: Mika Häkkinen (Finland) - McLaren MP4/14, McLaren-Mercedes
2000-2009
2000: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F1-2000, Ferrari

2001: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2001, Ferrari

2002: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2002, Ferrari

2003: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2003-GA, Ferrari

2004: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2004, Ferrari

2005: Fernando Alonso (Spain) - Renault R25, Renault

2006: Fernando Alonso (Spain) - Renault R26, Renault

2007: Kimi Räikkönen (Finland) - Ferrari F2007, Ferrari

2008: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - McLaren MP4-23, McLaren-Mercedes

2009: Jenson Button (United Kingdom) - Brawn BGP 001, Brawn-Mercedes
2010-2020
2010: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB6, Red Bull-Renault

2011: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB7, Red Bull-Renault

2012: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB8, Red Bull-Renault

2013: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB9, Red Bull-Renault

2014: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid, Mercedes

2015: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid, Mercedes

2016: Nico Rosberg (Germany) - Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid, Mercedes

2017: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W08 EQ Power+, Mercedes

2018: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W09 EQ Power+, Mercedes

2019: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W10 EQ Power+, Mercedes

2020: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W11 EQ Power+, Mercedes
2021-
2021: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB16B, Honda

2022: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB18, Red Bull Power Trains Honda

2023: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB19, Red Bull Power Trains Honda

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