The first race of the 2025 F1 season is upon us as Australia returns to host the season-opening grand prix for the first time in six years.
All eyes will be on Lewis Hamilton as he makes his debut in the famous Ferrari red this weekend following a stunning reception from fans worldwide to his move from Mercedes.
Max Verstappen claimed his fourth straight world championship in 2024 but McLaren’s Lando Norris is the favourite this year, with the papaya expected to have the quickest car. Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri competes at his home race this weekend.
Last year at the tricky Albert Park street circuit in Melbourne, Carlos Sainz claimed a famous win as he led home a Ferrari one-two ahead of Charles Leclerc. Who will be victorious this Sunday?
Follow all the latest F1 news with The Independent as we count down to the Australian Grand Prix
F1 AUSTRALIAN GP – LATEST UPDATES
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F1 returns this weekend with the Australian GP kicking off the 2025 season
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Practice two takes place at 5am (GMT); Lando Norris quickest in FP1
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Ollie Bearman sustains heavy crash in FP1
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Lando Norris starts campaign as favourite for world title but played down McLaren’s tag of ‘favourites’
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ANALYSIS: Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari F1 are a ‘perfect match’ – but will results live up to the hype?
READ MORE: Ollie Bearman sustains heavy crash!
02:53 , Kieran Jackson
Ollie Bearman escaped unharmed after a heavy crash in practice at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old, making his full-time F1 debut with Haas after three races as a reserve last year, lost control of his car coming out of the high-speed turn 10 section.
His car entered the gravel after a snap of oversteer, before the car spun into the wall with one tyre coming loose from the car.
More below:
Ollie Bearman crashes out of practice on F1 full-time debut at Australian GP
Lando Norris fastest in FP1!
02:35 , Kieran Jackson
An action-packed session!
Two red flags – one due to debris, one due to that Bearman crash – but at the end of it, Lando Norris goes fastest!
His McLaren set a time of 1:17:252, 0.149 secs quicker than Williams’s Carlos Sainz!
3-10: Leclerc, Piastri, Verstappen, Albon, Russell, Alonso, Hadjar, Stroll
As for Lewis Hamilton? He’s down in P12 and wasn’t overly comfortable in his Ferrari car!
George Russell has a spin out of turn 3!
02:32 , Kieran Jackson
Hairy moment for the Brit, who drops a wheel onto the grass and spins!
Fortunately, the run-off area saves him and he doesn’t hit the wall!
Lando Norris goes quickest!
02:31 , Kieran Jackson
Late in the day, Norris goes quickest with a 1:17:252 – 0.149 secs quicker than Sainz!
Lewis Hamilton:
02:24 , Kieran Jackson
“I’m struggling to turn the car!”
Not what you want to hear…
GREEN FLAG!
02:22 , Kieran Jackson
A quick clean up job for the marshals and with Bearman’s smashed up car safely removed, we can get going again in FP1!
Just 10 minutes left, and a lot of cars queueing in the pit-lane in an attempt to get one more lap in!
PICTURE: Bearman crash
02:19 , Kieran Jackson
Ollie Bearman:
02:10 , Kieran Jackson
Bearman: “I’m OK, I’m sorry.”
Engineer: “No worries Ollie, the car is safe.”
RED FLAG!
02:09 , Kieran Jackson
Oh no!
Ollie Bearman is in the wall after a big shunt!
Session stopped!
The 19-year-old was going quickly around turn 10 before entering the gravel. His car then spun uncontrollably into the wall! Nightmare for the Brit on his full-time debut!
Carlos Sainz goes P1!
02:08 , Kieran Jackson
Gasps in the media centre as Sainz goes quickest, 0.060 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc in second!
Max Verstappen quickest after 30 mins!
02:03 , Kieran Jackson
As some cars switch from mediums to softs, Max Verstappen goes P1 with arch nemesis George Russell in second, 0.020 seconds behind.
3-10: Leclerc, Sainz, Hadjar, Norris, Hamilton, Piastri, Tsunoda, Gasly
Russell, meanwhile, complains of being “very hot inside the car.”
Session stops!
01:55 , Kieran Jackson
Back underway in Melbourne after that brief stoppage…
Jack Doohan the guilty party!
01:51 , Kieran Jackson
Just a little kick up of gravel from the Aussie driver, forcing the red flag!
Shouldn’t be too long to clear up, me thinks..
RED FLAG!
01:49 , Kieran Jackson
Session stopped!
Loads of gravel on the track at turn 6 and so they’ve stopped the session to get that cleaned up!
Unclear at this moment who went through the gravel trap…
George Russell on team radio:
01:49
“Just have a look at the high speeds, particularly out of 9 and 10.”
Liam Lawson touches the wall!
01:40 , Kieran Jackson
A little clip of the wall for Red Bull’s new driver, though no damage done to the car!
Quite a lot of damage down to the camera on the wall though… completely destroyed!
Lando Norris top of the timesheet early on, 0.064 seconds clear of Charles Leclerc
Only 10 minutes gone though!
FP1 underway!
01:35 , Kieran Jackson
And we are a go in F1 in 2025!
A Sauber with an aero-rake is the first car out, followed closely by most of the field!
Practice just five minutes away!
01:25 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton is walking around the Ferrari garage fist-pumping all his engineers, ahead of his first official race session with the Scuderia!
All eyes will be on the seven-time world champion this morning in his first practice session!
It’s also a big day for the six full-time rookies on the grid… practice starts in five minutes!
Drive to Survive: The major F1 storylines Netflix missed in season 7
01:19 , Luke Baker
The latest season of Drive to Survive was released on Friday as the popular docu-series tells the story of the 2024 season.
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari featured prominently, as did the Christian Horner scandal and Max Verstappen’s title win. But what major stories from last year did Netflix miss in season 7?
Drive to Survive: The major F1 storylines Netflix missed in season 7
F1 practice start time and schedule!
01:15 , Kieran Jackson
Here are all the timings for all the action in Melbourne this weekend!
All times GMT
Friday 14 March
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Free practice 1: 1:30am
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Free practice 2: 5am
Saturday 15 March
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Free practice 3: 1:30am
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Qualifying: 5am
Sunday 16 March
Zak Brown claims McLaren have ‘best driver line-up’ in F1 after Oscar Piastri deal
01:10 , Luke Baker
Oscar Piastri has signed a multi-year deal with McLaren on the eve of the opening race of the new Formula 1 season, as the Australian seeks a first championship title at last year’s constructors’-winning team.
He finished fourth last year, winning in Hungary before claiming a second victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and is one of the favourites for this season.
Piastri was already under contract until 2026 and has now secured his future with the British team until at least 2028.
Read McLaren head honcho Zak Brown’s thoughts on the deal:
Zak Brown claims McLaren have ‘best driver line-up’ in F1 after Oscar Piastri deal
Max Verstappen’s response to ‘doctored’ F1 Drive to Survive episode is exactly what you’d expect
01:00 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen says he was “not surprised” to see a doctored clip of him appearing on the latest season of Drive to Survive.
The popular F1 docu-series has previously been boycotted by Verstappen, who refused to appear in his first title-winning season, due to Netflix’s tendency to manipulate storylines and drama.
On season seven, a clip of Verstappen’s cool-down room reaction to Lando Norris’s win in Miami is mixed in with his reaction at his home race in Zandvoort in the same scenario, showing a more despondent Verstappen, some three months later.
Full quotes below:
Verstappen’s response to ‘doctored’ F1 Drive to Survive is exactly what you’d expect
Australian Grand Prix statistics
00:46 , Luke Baker
Statistics for Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park:
Lap distance: 5.278km. Total distance: 306.124km (58 laps)
2024 pole position: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) one minute 15.915 seconds.
2024 winner: Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
Race lap record: Sergio Perez (Red Bull), 1:20.235 – 2023.
NOTE: The circuit was shortened by 28 metres, with two turns taken out and seven corners modified, in 2022.
Start time: 0400 GMT (1500 local)
Lewis Hamilton on the pressure of racing for Ferrari:
00:13 , Kieran Jackson
“The pressure I’ve put on myself has been ten times higher than any pressure put upon me.
“I haven’t been made to feel any pressure, I know what I can deliver and it’s just getting my head down.
“No expectations this weekend, getting used to this new car. Ferrari power is new, different vibrations, different feel.”
Oscar Piastri on potential home win this weekend:
Thursday 13 March 2025 23:45 , Kieran Jackson
“We’ll see. No one knows what to expect, testing went pretty well and we’re pretty happy with how it went, Melbourne is different to Bahrain.
“Different every hour by the look of things, it’ll be an interesting weekend.
“We’re expecting to be at the front, whether it’s the pointy end we’ll see. “
Jack Doohan on first home race:
Thursday 13 March 2025 23:00 , Kieran Jackson
“I’m super keen to get on the track, get to tomorrow, it’s been a long time since Abu Dhabi.
“To enjoy each time I’m on track, work hard with the team, deliver on track with whatever the car’s potential so far.”
Thursday 13 March 2025 20:01 , Luke Baker
A group of prominent Formula 1 figures showed their support for Michael Schumacher at the Race of Champions in Sydney as they urged the seven-time world champion to “keep fighting”.
Mick Schumacher, the German great’s son, and former F1 driver Sebastian Vettel were among those in attendance as a banner was unveiled at the Accor Stadium.
Schumacher suffered a traumatic brain injury in a skiing accident in 2013 and has not since been seen in public, with few updates provided by his family about his health as he rehabilitates privately.
Michael Schumacher tribute unveiled by son Mick and Sebastian Vettel: ‘Keep fighting’
Lewis Hamilton on expectations in Australia:
Thursday 13 March 2025 19:00 , Kieran Jackson
“I definitely hope to be top-10! I don’t have expectations, I ultimately want to come away knowing I gave absolutely everything and excelled in every way I can, felt comfortable in the car and one foot in front of the other.
“We won’t know until tomorrow where we truly stand with the top teams, I’m hoping we can compete for top-5 – somewhere in that space.”
Lewis Hamilton warned over Ferrari honeymoon
Thursday 13 March 2025 17:00 , Luke Baker
Lewis Hamilton has been warned that getting used to how things are done at Ferrari after 11 years with Mercedes may take a little time, even though he has made a promising start to life in Maranello.
Writing in his season preview for Sky Sports, F1 pundit and commentator Martin Brundle gave his thoughts on Hamilton’s switch.
“The Ferrari move does seem to be working for Lewis. I’ve never seen him smile so much,” wrote Brundle.
“He seems really energised and invigorated by this new opportunity. Lewis has been very smart too. Obviously, he knows team boss Fred Vasseur very well from times of old, but he’s had an advance party at Ferrari to integrate as quickly as he can into the team. Angela Cullen has returned, while Marc Hynes has been back in the fold for a year or two now already.
“He’s got a new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, and has got to understand how Ferrari works, which will be diametrically opposed to how Mercedes works in terms of culture I suspect, in terms of procedures. Lewis is going to have to find out where all the green buttons are and I expect it will take him a little bit of time to get used to that, along with speaking some Italian.”
Oscar Piastri on whether McLaren can match Red Bull era of dominance:
Thursday 13 March 2025 15:00 , Kieran Jackson
“No, I don’t think so.
“That would be ideal, what every team dreams of but at this point in the regulations, expecting that is incredibly naive.
“This season is going to be just as tight if not tighter than the second half of last year. We have a new set of rules next year, which will change the pecking order or gaps a bit.
“This year will be a competitive year of F1, as much as I’d like to have that level of success, it’ll be very very tough.”
French rookie Isack Hadjar ready for F1 debut
Thursday 13 March 2025 13:12 , Lawrence Ostlere
Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar is heading into the season-opening Formula 1 race in Australia with fewer than 500 laps in a Grand Prix car under his belt.
The 20-year-old Hadjar has been dubbed ‘Petit Prost’ — a young version of former F1 star Alain Prost — by the French media for his successes in F2 last year, when he finished runner-up with four victories. That was two more than champion Gabriel Bortoleto, now with Sauber.
The French driver has had just four practice sessions in F1 and last year’s post-season test for Red Bull Racing and the brand’s second Grand Prix team, now known as Racing Bulls. He says “it’s enough” ahead of his first F1 race weekend.
“Ideally, I would go on different tracks, of course, because now Melbourne in an F1 car is pretty challenging,” Hadjar said. “By F1 experience, I’ve been on really easy tracks — Bahrain and Abu Dhabi mostly. So now on really challenging tracks, it’s going to be a fair bit different.”
Lando Norris dismisses ‘short-sighted’ F1 teams who have McLaren as clear favourites
Thursday 13 March 2025 12:30 , Kieran Jackson
Lando Norris believes McLaren’s tag as clear F1 favourites is being exaggerated as the Brit looked to dampen expectations ahead of the new season.
The McLaren driver, who finished runner-up to Max Verstappen last year, is the title favourite with the bookies this year following McLaren’s constructors’ championship victory in 2024.
Yet Norris looked to downplay McLaren’s favourites tag, when asked ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend.
Lando Norris dismisses ‘short-sighted’ F1 teams who have McLaren as clear favourites
Toto Wolff repsonds to Verstappen links
Thursday 13 March 2025 11:44 , Lawrence Ostlere
More from Toto, who says: “I don’t flirt outside if I am in a good relationship. At the moment that (a move for Verstappen) is not on the radar.
“I don’t like to shift my concentration away from these guys (Russell and Antonelli). I’m someone who sticks to what he says and this is the combination that I want to go forward with Mercedes. I have no other reasons to doubt that.”
Following Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari, Russell will enter a campaign as Mercedes’ lead driver for the first time in his career.
And when quizzed about Russell’s next deal, Wolff continued: “We had a chat a few weeks ago about when the right timing would be to liaise.
“We’re going to find some time, I guess before the summer. We will do that in a timely manner, without disrupting the season.”
Lewis Hamilton on cloud nine as Ferrari F1 debut looms: ‘This is the most exciting period of my life’
Thursday 13 March 2025 11:30 , Kieran Jackson
For all his stardust, Lewis Hamilton is not always the easiest interviewee.
When he’s on-form, Formula One’s biggest star is thoughtful and genuine, with the ears of everyone in the room fixed on his words. At times, however, particularly in the last three topsy-turvy years at Mercedes, he can be reticent to speak at all.
Not now, though. Hamilton has the essence of a man completely reborn donning the famous Ferrari red and, ahead of his debut race this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix, the 40-year-old was unwavering in his exhilaration at what is to come in his 19th F1 season.
Full piece below:
Lewis Hamilton on cloud nine at Ferrari: ‘It’s the most exciting period of my life’
Oscar Piastri on his new long-term contract:
Thursday 13 March 2025 10:30 , Kieran Jackson
“I was already signed up for this year and next but it felt like a natural progression to sign longer term.
“My years at the team have been incredible to when I joined to constructors’ champions.
“It made a lot of sense, myself and Lando are there for a long time now – it seemed like a no-brainer.”
Carlos Sainz on Williams:
Thursday 13 March 2025 08:59 , Kieran Jackson
“I feel I’ve joined a team full of motivation, who want to bring the team back to the front. It was a good test in Abu Dhabi.
“We’ve had a strong winter, a positive test, are we going to be one second off the leaders? I don’t know. We want to show progress.
Michael Schumacher tribute unveiled by son Mick and Sebastian Vettel: ‘Keep fighting’
Thursday 13 March 2025 05:30 , Flo Clifford
A group of prominent Formula 1 figures showed their support for Michael Schumacher at the Race of Champions in Sydney as they urged the seven-time world champion to “keep fighting”.
Mick Schumacher, the German great’s son, and former F1 driver Sebastian Vettel were among those in attendance as a banner was unveiled at the Accor Stadium.
Schumacher suffered a traumatic brain injury in a skiing accident in 2013 and has not since been seen in public, with few updates provided by his family about his health as he rehabilitates privately.
Michael Schumacher tribute unveiled by son Mick and Sebastian Vettel: ‘Keep fighting’
Lewis Hamilton on Ferrari debut this weekend:
Thursday 13 March 2025 04:39 , Kieran Jackson
“I’m very fortunate, I’ve had a long career in Formula 1. This is very reminiscent of my first year, for all those years I’ve gone up and down the paddock and seen the red garage, now I’m in red.
“The pressure I’ve put on myself has been ten times higher than any pressure put upon me. I haven’t been made to feel any pressure, I know what I can deliver and it’s just getting my head down. No expectations this weekend… just getting used to this new car.
“This is the most exciting period of my life.”
Lewis Hamilton when asked if he’s happy with the Ferrari car:
Thursday 13 March 2025 03:41 , Kieran Jackson
“Yes so far. I feel so. Difficult to know where we stand with everyone else, Carlos was incredibly quick, Kimi too.
“It’s going to be close between us all. I’m itching to get going, it’s been a long time coming, to think this is going to be my first grand prix with the team, very honoured and grateful to get the opportunity.”
Oscar Piastri signs long-term extension with McLaren: ‘It’s a no-brainer’
Thursday 13 March 2025 01:30 , Jamie Braidwood
Oscar Piastri has signed a multi-year deal with McLaren on the eve of the opening race of the new Formula One season.
Piastri, 23, who was already under contract until 2026, has now secured his long-term future with the British team.
The Australian driver finished fourth in the championship last year. He opened his winning account in Hungary before claiming a second victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
With McLaren expected to carry over their constructors’-winning form into the new season, Piastri is set to battle with team-mate Lando Norris for the world title.
Speaking after his contract extension was announced, Piastri, gearing up for his third season on the F1 grid, said: “It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m part of McLaren’s long-term vision.”
Oscar Piastri signs long-term extension with McLaren: ‘It’s a no-brainer’
Lando Norris ‘ready to win title’, says Mika Hakkinen
Thursday 13 March 2025 00:35 , Luke Baker
McLaren legend Mika Hakkinen has backed current driver Lando Norris, saying the Brit is “absolutely ready” to win the F1 Drivers’ Championship title this year.
The 25-year-old was Max Verstappen’s closest challenger in 2024 but made key mistakes at crucial times as the Red Bull star won a fourth title on the spin.
But former world champion Hakkinen was bullish when asked if Norris is now ready to win the title.
“Absolutely, yes,” Hakkinen told the Hindustan Times. “Why? Because I experienced many years of racing without success, but it was part of my development to become a good racing driver.
“You have to maintain your criticism about yourself. That way you keep developing and pushing. That means you are taking risks. Lando experienced all these elements in his career. He’s been taking risks. He’s been critical of himself. He’s been pushing flat out.
“When you’re not world champion, when you’re working towards that goal, it requires a lot of mistakes and stress. I believe Lando is ready. He is flat-out ready to achieve his goal.”
Oscar Piastri signs long-term extension with McLaren: ‘It’s a no-brainer’
Wednesday 12 March 2025 16:39 , Luke Baker
Oscar Piastri has signed a multi-year deal with McLaren on the eve of the opening race of the new Formula One season.
Piastri, 23, who was already under contract until 2026, has now secured his long-term future with the British team.
The Australian driver finished fourth in the championship last year. He opened his winning account in Hungary before claiming a second victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
With McLaren expected to carry over their constructors’-winning form into the new season, Piastri is set to battle with team-mate Lando Norris for the world title.
Speaking after his contract extension was announced, Piastri, gearing up for his third season on the F1 grid, said: “It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m part of McLaren’s long-term vision.”
Zak Brown claims McLaren have ‘best driver line-up’ in F1 after Oscar Piastri deal
Lewis Hamilton warned over Ferrari honeymoon
Wednesday 12 March 2025 16:13 , Luke Baker
Lewis Hamilton has been warned that getting used to how things are done at Ferrari after 11 years with Mercedes may take a little time, even though he has made a promising start to life in Maranello.
Writing in his season preview for Sky Sports, F1 pundit and commentator Martin Brundle gave his thoughts on Hamilton’s switch.
“The Ferrari move does seem to be working for Lewis. I’ve never seen him smile so much,” wrote Brundle.
“He seems really energised and invigorated by this new opportunity. Lewis has been very smart too. Obviously, he knows team boss Fred Vasseur very well from times of old, but he’s had an advance party at Ferrari to integrate as quickly as he can into the team. Angela Cullen has returned, while Marc Hynes has been back in the fold for a year or two now already.
“He’s got a new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, and has got to understand how Ferrari works, which will be diametrically opposed to how Mercedes works in terms of culture I suspect, in terms of procedures. Lewis is going to have to find out where all the green buttons are and I expect it will take him a little bit of time to get used to that, along with speaking some Italian.”
Lando Norris ‘ready to win title’, says Mika Hakkinen
Wednesday 12 March 2025 15:41 , Luke Baker
McLaren legend Mika Hakkinen has backed current driver Lando Norris, saying the Brit is “absolutely ready” to win the F1 Drivers’ Championship title this year.
The 25-year-old was Max Verstappen’s closest challenger in 2024 but made key mistakes at crucial times as the Red Bull star won a fourth title on the spin.
But former world champion Hakkinen was bullish when asked if Norris is now ready to win the title.
“Absolutely, yes,” Hakkinen told the Hindustan Times. “Why? Because I experienced many years of racing without success, but it was part of my development to become a good racing driver.
“You have to maintain your criticism about yourself. That way you keep developing and pushing. That means you are taking risks. Lando experienced all these elements in his career. He’s been taking risks. He’s been critical of himself. He’s been pushing flat out.
“When you’re not world champion, when you’re working towards that goal, it requires a lot of mistakes and stress. I believe Lando is ready. He is flat-out ready to achieve his goal.”
Max Verstappen told ‘he doesn’t have a chance’ of F1 title this year
Wednesday 12 March 2025 15:12 , Luke Baker
Max Verstappen does not have “a chance” of a fifth straight F1 Drivers’ Championship win in 2025 according to former driver Ralf Schumacher.
Schumacher believes Verstappen delivered a “rescue” effort in a struggling Red Bull car last year but he won’t be able to do the same again.
McLaren’s Lando Norris is the favourite to win the title this season and Schumacher is adamant Verstappen will be powerless to stop the Brit and others at the front of the grid.
Speaking on the Sky Germany podcast, Schumacher said: “Last year it was clear. Red Bull was very strong at the start of the season, but then they couldn’t handle the car. Verstappen was the rescue.
“However, he will have to get used to everything coming to an end. I don’t think he has a chance.”
Toto Wolff makes shock Max Verstappen F1 revelation after breaking ‘promise’ to Lewis Hamilton
Wednesday 12 March 2025 14:43 , Luke Baker
Toto Wolff promised Lewis Hamilton he wouldn’t pursue a move for Max Verstappen while the Brit was at Mercedes, as revealed in the new season of Drive to Survive.
The Mercedes team principal, who worked with Hamilton for 12 years, spent the first half of the 2024 season looking for a replacement for the Ferrari-bound driver.
Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso were among the contenders, with Wolff eventually opting to promote teenage prodigy Kimi Antonelli to partner George Russell this year.
Yet Wolff made no secret of his desire to sign Hamilton’s 2021 foe Verstappen – especially amid unrest at Red Bull at the start of last season – and details as such in season seven of Drive to Survive, released on Friday.
Wolff makes shock Verstappen F1 revelation after breaking ‘promise’ to Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton admits racism in Serie A ‘crossed his mind’ before Ferrari F1 move
Wednesday 12 March 2025 14:15 , Luke Baker
Lewis Hamilton has admitted that incidents of black footballers being racially abused in Italy did make him think twice when deciding to move to Ferrari this year.
The seven-time F1 world champion has switched to Ferrari after 12 years and six world titles at Mercedes. His first race in Scuderia red is at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 16 March.
Hamilton is also F1’s first and only black driver and has detailed in the past the “traumatising” racial abuse he has suffered, detailing in 2023 that he had bananas thrown at him and was repeatedly called the “n-word” at school. He was also racially abused at F1 testing in Barcelona in 2008.
Serie A footballers such as Mike Maignan and Moise Kean have been subject to racial abuse in the past and Hamilton did admit that racist chanting at Italian matches “crossed his mind” when making the decision to move to Ferrari last winter.
Lewis Hamilton admits racism in Serie A ‘crossed his mind’ before Ferrari F1 move
Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari F1 are a ‘perfect match’ – but will results live up to the hype?
Wednesday 12 March 2025 13:38 , Luke Baker
Nothing has ever motivated Lewis Hamilton more than the naysayers of this world. Where the sceptics see adversity, Hamilton sees opportunity. And last month, the seven-time world champion had a message for the doubters ahead of the most anticipated phase of his glittering Formula One career.
“Don’t ever compare me to anyone else,” he told Time. “I’m the first and only Black driver that’s ever been in this sport. I’m built different… I’m hungry, driven, don’t have a wife or kids. I’m focused on one thing and that’s winning.”
Has the Hamilton-Ferrari hype train caught you yet? If so, what drew you in? Was it the joyous scenes of week one, appearing in a black suit and Ferrari race gear in Maranello for the first time? Was it London, F1 75 Live, and an adoring British crowd? Or was it Bahrain, Milan, and now Melbourne, as the sight of F1’s joint-most successful driver in peerless scarlet red becomes the new reality?
The Independent’s F1 Correspondent Kieran Jackson is in Melbourne ahead of the Australian GP and has dug into whether Hamilton can live up to the hype:
Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari are ‘perfect match’ – but will results match the hype?
Drive to Survive review: Season 7 airs with Christian Horner Red Bull scandal rehashed on Netflix
Wednesday 12 March 2025 12:49 , Luke Baker
Let’s start with the obvious: Christian Horner has been a dream for Drive to Survive since the show landed in 2019. The Red Bull F1 CEO has been front-and-centre of countless episodes in the past six seasons, gladly playing the role of F1’s pantomime villain, with numerous scenes filmed at his country mansion home in Oxfordshire, alongside Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell.
Season seven is no different. The latest instalment, chronicling the 2024 season, begins with Horner at the wheel of his 4×4, locked in conversation with Geri about a record-breaking 2023 campaign, in which Red Bull won 21 out of 22 races.
With an air of inevitability synonymous with Netflix’s exquisitely curated narratives, Geri strikes a warning to her husband: “You never know what life’s going to bring.” In actual fact, we all know what’s coming next.
Horner scandal rehashed as Drive to Survive season 7 unearths new F1 villain
Dream move or nightmare in waiting? Lewis Hamilton on red alert with Ferrari
Wednesday 12 March 2025 12:26 , Luke Baker
The eyes of the sporting world will be on Lewis Hamilton when the lights go out for Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Hamilton will fulfil a lifelong ambition by starting his 19th Formula One campaign in the red of Ferrari following a mouth-watering transfer from Mercedes which is set to earn him north of £100m.
However, with change comes extraordinary pressure.
Hamilton is widely considered F1’s G.O.A.T. No driver boasts more victories or pole positions in the sport’s 75-year history, his record tally of seven world championships is one he shares with Michael Schumacher and he transcends the sport. But it is not hyperbole to suggest Hamilton’s legacy is on the line.
Dream move or nightmare in waiting? Lewis Hamilton on red alert with Ferrari
Madrid F1 circuit given new name
Wednesday 12 March 2025 11:58 , Luke Baker
The new Madrid F1 circuit set to host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026 to 2035 will be known as Madring, organisers have revealed.
The 5.47km part-street layout will be around the IFEMA exhibition centre with easy access by rail and metro from the city and nearby Barajas airport.
Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya currently hosts the Spanish Grand Prix and has a contract for one more race after this season.
Alpine add a fourth F1 reserve with India’s Maini
Wednesday 12 March 2025 10:40 , Luke Baker
Alpine have added a fourth test and reserve driver to their roster with the announcement of Indian Kush Maini.
Formula Two driver Maini, 24, joins a list that includes Argentine Franco Colapinto, Estonian Paul Aron and Japan’s Ryo Hirakawa.
Alpine now have twice as many reserves as race drivers, with Colapinto already having F1 race experience with Williams and widely seen as a future replacement for Australian rookie Jack Doohan.
The team said Maini would offer support by using the driver-in-loop simulator at the Enstone factory and taking part in the testing of previous cars (TPC) programme.
Why Lando Norris knows there is ‘no excuses’ now – he has to win 2025 F1 title
Wednesday 12 March 2025 10:15 , Flo Clifford
Taking the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi at the final race of 2024, bringing home a first constructors’ title in 26 years for McLaren, brought up mixed emotions for cheerful chappy Lando Norris.
On one hand, it was pure elation. A member of the McLaren family for eight years, this meant as much to Norris as anyone else. He described it as a “perfect” end to the season, beating Ferrari to the championship by 14 points. And he’d need no invitation; he was going to get “hammered” later that night over the border in Bahrain.
Yet in the same breath, even amid joyous papaya-clad celebrations on the pit-wall, the boy from Bristol could not help but sample that bittersweet taste. “It’s been a special year,” he said over team radio, before adding: “And next year is going to be my year, too.”
Why Lando Norris knows there are now ‘no excuses’ – he has to win 2025 F1 title
‘No love lost’ between George Russell and Max Verstappen as last season’s feud rumbles on
Wednesday 12 March 2025 09:26 , Flo Clifford
The dispute between four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell shows no sign of abating as the new season gets underway.
The pair memorably clashed after the Qatar Grand Prix last season, when Verstappen, the eventual winner, was penalised for impeding the Brit.
Russell claimed that afterwards Verstappen threatened to “purposefully go out of his way to crash into me and ‘put me on my head in the wall'”, while his Dutch counterpart said he had “lost all respect” for the Mercedes driver.
‘No love lost’ between Russell and Verstappen as feud rumbles on
Max Verstappen told ‘he doesn’t have a chance’ of F1 title this year
Wednesday 12 March 2025 08:15 , Flo Clifford
Max Verstappen does not have “a chance” of a fifth straight F1 Drivers’ Championship win in 2025, according to former driver Ralf Schumacher.
Schumacher believes Verstappen delivered a “rescue” effort in a struggling Red Bull car last year but he won’t be able to do the same again.
McLaren’s Lando Norris is the favourite to win the title this season and Schumacher is adamant Verstappen will be powerless to stop the Brit and others at the front of the grid.
Speaking on the Sky Germany podcast, Schumacher said: “Last year it was clear. Red Bull was very strong at the start of the season, but then they couldn’t handle the car. Verstappen was the rescue.
“However, he will have to get used to everything coming to an end. I don’t think he has a chance.”
Lewis Hamilton admits racism in Serie A ‘crossed his mind’ before Ferrari F1 move
Wednesday 12 March 2025 07:45 , Flo Clifford
Lewis Hamilton has admitted that incidents of black footballers being racially abused in Italy did make him think twice when deciding to move to Ferrari this year.
The seven-time F1 world champion has switched to Ferrari after 12 years and six world titles at Mercedes. His first race in Scuderia red is at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 16 March.
Hamilton is also F1’s first and only black driver and has detailed in the past the “traumatising” racial abuse he has suffered, detailing in 2023 that he had bananas thrown at him and was repeatedly called the “n-word” at school. He was also racially abused at F1 testing in Barcelona in 2008.
Serie A footballers such as Mike Maignan and Moise Kean have been subject to racial abuse in the past and Hamilton did admit that racist chanting at Italian matches “crossed his mind” when making the decision to move to Ferrari last winter.
Lewis Hamilton admits racism in Serie A ‘crossed his mind’ before Ferrari F1 move
