Racing down under
After weeks of waiting, it’s finally here, race week is back! This week, Formula 1 heads Down Under to Australia for the season-opening round: the iconic Australian Grand Prix.
A new season means fresh excitement. New cars. An additional team on the grid. New drivers ready to prove themselves. The anticipation couldn’t be higher, and Melbourne always delivers a spectacular start to the championship.
Who starts this season on top? Who has had the best developments over the winter, and who is already playing catch-up?
Is the Australian Grand Prix in Danger?
First of all, we want to acknowledge the significant events currently unfolding around the world. While we are not a news platform and will not go into the details, we will share updates as soon as these events directly affect the world of Formula 1. Human lives are far more important than any race, and this perspective guides our coverage.
Regarding the Australian Grand Prix, is the race at risk? Australia is geographically distant from the affected regions, so there is no direct danger. However, pre-season testing earlier this year took place in Bahrain, where some Formula 1 equipment and car parts remain stored. It is currently uncertain whether all of this will arrive in Australia on schedule.
Logistics are another consideration. Many team members and drivers normally travel via the Middle East for example, through Dubai to connect to Australia. With certain airspaces currently closed, alternative travel routes may be required.
The FIA has stated that it is closely monitoring the situation, particularly with the Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia coming up next month. We will provide updates if any developments impact the races.
Albert Park Circuit
The Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne is a unique venue that combines the thrill of high-speed racing with a stunning parkland setting. Built around Albert Park Lake, the track uses public roads with a smooth surface, unlike many street circuits. Its picturesque location, featuring the lake as a backdrop, makes it a standout on the Formula 1 calendar.
Since its inaugural Grand Prix in 1996, the circuit has delivered iconic moments. Spanning 5.278 kilometers with 14 turns. It challenges drivers over 58 laps, covering a race distance of 306.124 kilometers. Charles Leclerc holds the lap record of 1:19.813, set in 2024.
Legends like Michael Schumacher, who holds the record with four wins at the Australian Grand Prix, have left a lasting mark on Albert Park. Other multiple race winners include Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel, each with three victories, and several drivers with two wins to their name. Among the current grid, drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz have all scored wins here in recent years.
What time does the Australian Grand Prix start in my time zone?
Free Practice 1
- Las Vegas (PST): 5:30 PM (Saturday)
- New York (EST): 8:30 PM (Saturday)
- London (GMT): 1:30 AM
- Berlin (CET): 2:30 AM
- Moscow (MSK): 4:30 AM
- Dubai (GST): 5:30 AM
- India (IST): 7:00 AM
- Singapore (SGT): 9:30 AM
- China (CST): 9:30 AM
- Tokyo (JST): 10:30 AM
- Melbourne (AEDT): 12:30 PM
Grand Prix
Free Practice 2
- Melbourne (AEDT): 4:00 PM
- Las Vegas (PST): 9:00 PM
- London (GMT): 5:00 AM
- Berlin (CET): 6:00 AM
- Moscow (MSK): 8:00 AM
- Dubai (GST): 9:00 AM
- Tokyo (JST): 2:00 PM
- Singapore (SGT): 1:00 PM
- New York (EST): 12:00 AM
- China (CST): 1:00 PM
- India (IST): 10:30 AM
Free Practice 3
- Las Vegas (PST): 5:30 PM (Saturday)
- New York (EST): 8:30 PM (Saturday)
- London (GMT): 1:30 AM
- Berlin (CET): 2:30 AM
- Moscow (MSK): 4:30 AM
- Dubai (GST): 5:30 AM
- India (IST): 7:00 AM
- Singapore (SGT): 9:30 AM
- China (CST): 9:30 AM
- Tokyo (JST): 10:30 AM
- Melbourne (AEDT): 12:30 PM
Qualifying
- Melbourne (AEDT): 4:00 PM
- Las Vegas (PST): 9:00 PM
- London (GMT): 5:00 AM
- Berlin (CET): 6:00 AM
- Moscow (MSK): 8:00 AM
- Dubai (GST): 9:00 AM
- Tokyo (JST): 2:00 PM
- Singapore (SGT): 1:00 PM
- New York (EST): 12:00 AM
- China (CST): 1:00 PM
- India (IST): 10:30 AM
- Melbourne (AEDT): 3:00 PM
- Las Vegas (PST): 8:00 PM (previous day)
- London (GMT): 4:00 AM
- Berlin (CET): 5:00 AM
- Moscow (MSK): 7:00 AM
- Dubai (GST): 8:00 AM
- Tokyo (JST): 1:00 PM
- Singapore (SGT): 12:00 PM
- New York (EST): 11:00 PM (previous day)
- China (CST): 12:00 PM
- India (IST): 9:30 AM
Australian grand prix 2025
Friday & Saturday
The 2025 Australian Grand Prix was the season opener! And this wasn’t just any race, it was truly spectacular. The weekend started off calmly with three free practice sessions, but not for everyone. Six drivers were making their Formula 1 debut, and many others had switched teams. This meant that a lot of drivers still had to get familiar with their cars. Fortunately, they had three practice sessions to do just that.
On Saturday, it was finally time to see what the cars were capable of. How fast was each team, and what was the pecking order? McLaren proved their strength, with Lando Norris taking pole position and Oscar Piastri securing P2, followed by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in P3. But there were also some surprises, Yuki Tsunoda qualified P5, Alex Albon took P6, and the Ferraris were all the way down in P7 and P8. Meanwhile, Liam Lawson didn’t have the start he had hoped for, as he failed to make it into Q2 and ended up in P18.
Race Day
And then it was race day. As expected, the weather was dreadful, heavy rain and a soaked track. The race was set to start on time, but rookie Isack Hadjar crashed during the formation lap, causing a brief delay. Once the race got underway, things didn’t go smoothly. Jack Doohan lost control of his car on the wet track, and while his car was being cleared, Carlos Sainz also slid off into the wall.
But the chaos didn’t stop there, Fernando Alonso, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Liam Lawson all failed to finish the race. While all this drama unfolded at the back of the field, Lando Norris led for most of the race. However, both he and his teammate slid off the track. Norris managed to recover, but Piastri fell to the back of the pack.
As if there wasn’t enough drama already, the rain got even heavier. For a moment, it looked like Verstappen might take the win or that Ferrari could even secure a 1-2 finish. But in the end, McLaren and Norris made the right tire call, securing victory! It got tense in the closing laps as Verstappen closed in, but the Brit held his ground and won the first race of the season.
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