Australian Grand Prix: The Stakes of the Opening Race

Back to school! The season opens in Australia, the first time since 2019, which is six years. At the time, Valtteri Bottas won ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Since then, there have been quite a few changes. Bottas is no longer in F1, Hamilton no longer drives for Mercedes, and Verstappen is a four-time world champion. Quite something…

Out of the 20 drivers present on the grid at the start of the 2019 Australian Grand Prix, only ten will start this 2025 season. This year is also marked by an exceptional renewal of drivers. Six drivers are set to embark on their first season as an official Formula 1 driver, a first since 2010. Three of them will even compete in their first Grand Prix driving an F1 car: Isack Hadjar, Kimi Antonelli, and Gabriel Bortoleto.

The stakes are high for them. It’s not about the podium or even the top 10 but simply about delivering a good performance, without breaking the car. For that, they must not give in to euphoria and the emotion of what this big debut represents.

“It still seems unreal to tell myself that the next time I’m on track, it will be my first Formula 1 Grand Prix,” Kimi Antonelli confided on the sidelines of pre-season testing. “I can’t wait, I’ve been waiting all winter for this and it’s getting closer. We’re two weeks away from this reality and I think it will be both exciting and emotional, I am eager.”

To not make their task easier, the weather is expected to be capricious at the Albert Park circuit. On Saturday, for the qualifications, the temperature could rise to around 37°C, ten degrees more than for the race. This temperature difference could then have an impact on the tires and the track’s grip. But the sky could also darken, with a 76% chance of rain predicted for Sunday. In short, if the weather forecast does not improve, our young drivers will have their work cut out for them in their first laps.

And if there is one who might be under more pressure than the others, it’s Jack Doohan. According to rumors, the Alpine driver is already on the hot seat. With Franco Colapinto waiting in the wings and a demanding Flavio Briatore, the Australian will need to shine in Melbourne to secure his future.

Eyes fixed on Hamilton

The new Ferrari driver does not hide his hopes of a title with the Scuderia as early as this year. Isn’t it a bit pretentious on his part? His first performance will certainly be closely watched by his fans and especially by his critics.

« I don’t think Lewis will receive the same attention at Ferrari, explains Bernie Ecclestone, former F1 boss, in an interview with the Telegraph. « First of all, the team is satisfied with Charles Leclerc, his teammate. Leclerc speaks their language, so they will take care of him. Even if Lewis performs well, he will still have many enemies because he arrived all of a sudden. »

Indeed, the question arises. Will Lewis Hamilton be able to compete with Charles Leclerc, the Tifosi’s god for six seasons? The Monegasque has dominated all his teammates in red, from Sebastian Vettel to Carlos Sainz.

An initial idea of the hierarchy

This is not a scoop, the field was already tightening a lot at the end of last season and it should continue to do so. The year therefore promises to be full of suspense, and everyone is eager to see the beginning of a hierarchy in Melbourne. After the pre-season tests, whose performances should be taken with a grain of salt, Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren still appear to be the forces to be reckoned with.

Among this quartet, the reigning world champion constructor team seems to be the big favorite. “We have no more excuses. We proved last year that we had everything needed to fight at the top and be the best. If we are not at the beginning of the season, it’s because we are not good enough,” Lando Norris believes.

Same sentiment from the competitors. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen admit to having a lag behind the papaya-colored team.

« We still have work to do. I think that for now, one team is clearly ahead. This team is orange, » Verstappen announced on Dutch television, referring to McLaren.

After the pre-season tests, Charles Leclerc explains that the Scuderia is moving towards the first race with a few more unknowns, while the Red Bull driver believes that it is not possible for his team to aim for victory in Melbourne from the start.

Is the Red Bull hegemony over? Will we finally see several drivers contending for victory every weekend? First hints this Sunday at 5 am in Melbourne.