Lando Norris topped the primary observe session of the 2025 System 1 season on the Australian Grand Prix as British rookie Oliver Bearman suffered an enormous crash.
Norris had on Thursday performed down his and McLaren’s standing as pre-season favourites, however flashed a few of the efficiency that many anticipate to offer the Brit a positive alternative to say his maiden F1 title.
He set a time of 1:17.252s for the reigning constructors’ champions within the closing moments of the session to complete 0.149s away from Carlos Sainz, who impressed for Williams following his transfer from Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton was solely twelfth in his first race weekend session for Ferrari, ending six tenths of a second behind his team-mate Charles Leclerc, who was third.
The seven-time world champion, whose first observe look for Ferrari was the centre of consideration following his transfer from Mercedes, stated over crew radio that he was “struggling” to show the SF-25.
Oscar Piastri was 4 tenths off his McLaren team-mate Norris in fourth, whereas Max Verstappen was marginally additional again in fifth for Crimson Bull as he started his quest for a fifth successive drivers’ title.
Alex Albon backed up Sainz’s velocity by taking sixth for Williams, whereas George Russell completed seventh for Mercedes, surviving a late scare as he spun after driving onto the grass at Flip 4 and managed to cease his automobile simply wanting the limitations.
Bearman, who’s driving in his first full marketing campaign having made three race appearances final season, precipitated the second of two pink flags throughout the session as he ran onto the gravel on the exit of Flip 10 after which slammed into the barrier having didn’t regain management of his Haas because it emerged from the lure.
Sky Sports activities F1’s Martin Brundle stated: “He just missed the apex, ran wide. I think he didn’t recognise that early enough, was probably a bit too gung-ho and thought he would rescue that one.
“It was a bit of bit over-confident, and it’ll have knocked a few of that confidence.”
That interruption, together with an earlier delay to permit gravel to be faraway from the monitor the place it had been kicked up by vehicles operating off line at Flip 6, meant nearly a 3rd of the hour-long session was misplaced.
Liam Lawson, who’s beginning his first full marketing campaign alongside Verstappen at Crimson Bull having beforehand featured in 11 races for junior squad Racing Bulls during the last two years, survived an early scare of his personal after kissing the wall at Flip 9 earlier than finally ending sixteenth.
Isack Hadjar completed highest of the six rookies, taking ninth for Racing Bulls. Alpine’s Jack Doohan, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto have been thirteenth, 14th and fifteenth, respectively.
Sky Sports activities F1’s stay Australian GP schedule
Friday March 14
- 2.55am: F3 Qualifying*
- 3.40am: Staff Principals’ Press Convention
- 4.45am: Australian GP Observe Two (session begins at 5am)*
- 6.25am: F2 Qualifying*
- 7.15am: The F1 Present*
Saturday March 15
- 12.10am: F3 Dash*
- 1.10am: Australian GP Observe Three (session begins at 1.30am)*
- 3.10am: F2 Dash*
- 4.15am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up*
- 5am: AUSTRALIAN GP QUALIFYING*
- 7am: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book*
- 7.30am: Australian GP Qualifying Replay* (9am on Sky Showcase)
- 9.55pm: F3 Function Race*
Sunday March 16
- 12.25am: F2 Function Race*
- 2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
- 4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*
- 6am: Australian GP response: Chequered Flag*
- 7am: Ted’s Pocket book*
- 7.55am: Australian GP race replay
- 10am: Australian GP highlights (additionally on Sky Showcase)
- 7pm: Villeneuve Pironi – Racing’s Untold Tragedy
*Additionally on Sky Sports activities Fundamental Occasion
Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 System 1 season stay on Sky Sports activities F1, beginning with the Australian GP this weekend. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime