Lando Norris propels McLaren to the top in Australian Grand Prix opener

Dominika Jordan
Mar 17, 2025, 08:05 AM ET

MELBOURNE, Australia – Lando Norris and McLaren demonstrated their growth from last season, with Norris capturing the lead in the Formula 1 drivers' championship for the first time and ending Max Verstappen's extended dominance.

Norris’s victory in Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix season-opener marked a pivotal moment, disrupting Verstappen’s reign that had been unchallenged since May 2022.

Navigating multiple safety cars, Norris displayed exceptional skill in tricky conditions on a wet and slippery track that proved challenging for both rookies and seasoned veterans.

“We worked a lot over the winter to prepare for a race like this because it's where we threw away a lot of opportunities last season,” Norris explained. “Canada, Silverstone where we were not the best at preparing and knowing how decisive we’ve got to be.”

Reflecting on missed chances from the previous year, where poor tire calls cost him victories in both Canada and Silverstone, Norris acknowledged McLaren’s need to improve. Despite winning the constructor’s title for the first time since 1998, Norris finished the season as runner-up to Verstappen.

“We knew we had to improve in certain areas. There's been a lot of work on trying to make sure we're snappier and better with communication,” Norris said. “This time, we got it right and ended up on top.”

Recognizing McLaren’s current status as favorites, Norris emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant.

“Max was three-tenths off [in qualifying] yesterday. Last year, we were much further off and ended up with the best car by the end of the season,” he noted. “If you start thinking things are good and groovy, that's when you get caught. I do think we're favorites because the team has done an amazing job, and the car is flying. But we will have races where we struggle.”

Starting from pole position in Melbourne, a position that historically did not inspire confidence, Norris led the field from the outset.

“It's a difficult situation being first and not knowing what to do with tires. You just know someone behind will get it right, because they're going to gamble something, and it'll work out for them,” he said. “I was making sure the guys on the pit wall and everyone back in Mission Control were aware of what was going on. Making sure we were on top of it, ready to make the right call.”

The final laps presented an additional challenge for Norris.

“I've never led a race with five laps to go with Max behind me, trying to put me under pressure, in these conditions,” Norris admitted. “Maybe Max has had that a few times -- he has raced against Lewis a lot and can deal with it better than I can. For me, it was a first. So, it was about seeing how I handled it when I got there.”

In the end, Norris’s composure prevailed. “I'm happy I got through it and stayed calm. It's something I improved from last year.”

With this victory, Norris sets a promising tone for the rest of the season, as McLaren aims to maintain their competitive edge in the championship battle.