THE Lewis Hamilton-Ferrari era begins in Melbourne as the greatest show in motorsport returns for another season.
Hamilton, 40, made the switch from Mercedes to the Scuderia official over the off-season and will make his debut for the Italian team as he chases a record-breaking eighth world championship.
However, the Brit has plenty to do in his first F1 race for Ferrari as he starts eighth on the grid, one behind new team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Red Bull superstar Max Verstappen starts third on the grid behind Lando Norris and McLaren pal Oscar Piastri.
- Race time: 4am GMT
- TV channel: Sky Sports F1
- Live stream: NOW/Sky Sports app
- Grid: Norris, Piastri, Verstappen, Russell, Tsunoda, Albon, Leclerc, Hamilton, Gasly, Sainz, Hadjar, Alonso, Stroll, Doohan, Bortoleto, Antonelli, Hulkenberg, Lawson, Ocon, Bearman.
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Norris delighted
Pace setter Lando Norris was in dream land with his pole, as you might expect.
He said: “It’s the perfect way to start the year. Everyone at McLaren has done an amazing job to start with a one-two but it’s just qualifying, let’s see tomorrow, it’s going to be a tricky race but this is a good way to start.
“The car is extremely quick and when you put it together it’s unbelievable but it’s difficult to put together.
“Particularly after the first lap, when I went off and lost my lap, you’re in a tricky position – you need to risk it but not go too far because you can’t make a mistake. It’s a difficult balance. We know how quick Max and Red Bull are in the rain.”
Credit: Getty Chucking it down
After a scorching Saturday which saw temperatures of up to 37 degrees it is now chucking it down in Melbourne and the F2 race has already been axed because of the rain.
Punters have not been put off though and are decked out in their rain ponchos, coats, hats and umbrellas in the stands.
The official F1 forecast says conditions will start to improve and there will be a moderate chance of the odd shower during the race.
It is also VERY windy too, with gusts of up to 60km, but drivers can definitely race in this weather.
‘A lot to dissect’
Lewis Hamilton finished eighth in qualifying and said he and the engineers had a lot of work to do to catch up to the front runners.
He also revealed he doesn’t know the rain settings in his new car.
Hamilton told Sky Sports: “We will just get ours heads down and start finding out why we are not on pace with the front runners.
“Tomorrow is going to be a challenge. I’ve never driven this car in the rain, I don’t even know the rain settings but I’ve got to go and study that tonight and it will be a learning experience again.”
2025 schedule
With that change in schedule, here’s how the opening weeks of the season are looking,
There are two races to start the season, then a break, before five races and another break.
The calendar doesn’t head to Europe until May 18 – Imola – while plenty of British race fans will have July 6 at Silverstone circled.
All the info
Albert Park in Melbourne will host the first race of the F1 season.
Last year, the Australian GP was the third race of the season but a tweak in the schedule has now seen it host the big opener.
Verstappen won pole last year but brake failure saw him last just four laps before being forced to retire, with Carlos Sainz winning ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
The race starts at 4am GMT and will be shown on Sky Sports in the UK – their coverage is just about starting now.
We recommend you follow our live coverage for all the thrills and spills from track side in Australia, of course.
Credit: Splash Grid in full
Lando Norris was quickest in qualifying with McLaren the early pace setters as Oscar Piastri came second.
Max Verstappen will start from the second row, in third.
The full grid looks like this:
- Lando Norris
- Oscar 1Piastri
- Max Verstappen
- George Russell
- Yuki Tsunoda
- Alex Albon
- Charles Leclerc
- Lewis Hamilton
- Pierre Gasly
- Carlos Sainz
- Isack Hadjar
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Jack Doohan
- Gabriel Bortoleto
- Kimi Antonelli
- Nico Hulkenberg
- Liam Lawson
- Esteban Ocon
- Ollie Bearman
Credit: EPA Here we go!
The new F1 season is finally here! After months of waiting – and major, MAJOR changes to the grid – we are back in Australia.
Lewis Hamilton’s mega move to Ferrari dominated the headlines while the action was away and plenty of eyes will be on the seven-time champion at Albert Park.
Hamilton didn’t enjoy the best qualifying session, however, and will start in eighth – one spot behind Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Credit: Getty
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
