Formula 1

Australian Grand Prix Driver Ratings: Lando Norris Shines But What Does Lewis Hamilton Score After Tricky Ferrari Debut?

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By
Kieran Lynch
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Kieran Lynch Sports Editor

Kieran Lynch is a sports writer specialising in football and Formula One. He is a sports journalism graduate of Leeds Trinity University and completed a Press Association NCTJ course in Newcastle. He previously worked as a news reporter for the Eastern Daily Press in Norfolk and spent five years as a sports writer at the MailOnline.

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Published17 Mar 2025

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Lando Norris leads the drivers’ championship after taking the opening win of the 2025 F1 season in treacherous conditions, and here SportsCasting gives our driver ratings for the Australian GP.

2025 Australian GP Driver Ratings

Lando Norris – 10

Qualified – 1st, Finished – 1st

The perfect start to the season forAustralian GP – securing the perfect mark in our driver ratings.

He made a mistake at Turn 12 which almost handed the lead to Max Verstappen but other than that it was a perfect weekend for the McLaren driver.

It was his best wet-weather performance and he looks like the early favourite to take the title.

Max Verstappen – 9.5

Qualified – 3rd , Finished – 2nd

Strong weekend for the reigning world champion, who perhaps got more than what he and Red Bull hoped for at the Australian GP.

He made a strong start to get past Oscar Piastri but made a mistake to allow the Australian back through.

Verstappen then capitalised on Piastri’s mistake and was within striking distance of Lando Norris at the end. Might not have the quickest car but always seems to be a contender.

George Russell – 8

Qualified – 4th, Finished 3rd

Drove a very conservative race to take the final step of the podium at the Australian GP.

Was fairly anonymous during the race but made the right calls in the changing conditions and kept his car on the track.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli – 9

Qualified – 16th, Finished 4th

Disappointing in qualifying but showed on Sunday why Mercedes were ready to promote him into Lewis Hamilton’s old seat.

Antonelli battled up the order from 16th when his fellow rookies were crashing out of the race.

Was given an ‘unsafe release’ penalty which dropped him to 5th – but on Mercedes appeal, he was promoted back up to 4th.

Alex Albon – 9.5

Qualified – 6th, Finished – 5th

Did a brilliant job on both Saturday and Sunday, finishing 5th after Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s penalty was rescinded.

He was unfazed by pressure from Lewis Hamilton and was rewarded with his highest finish since getting 4th at the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Was expected to struggle against new teammate Carlos Sainz but was the quicker of the two this weekend.

Lance Stroll – 7.5

Qualified – 13th, Finished – 6th

Delivered the goods for Aston Martin after Fernando Alonso crashed out of the Australian GP.

His pace was very slow before he switched to dry tyres. However, he made the right call to come into the pits when the final rain shower arrived which lifted him into a strong points position.

Did well to keep his car on track when others were sliding off.

Nico Hulkenberg – 8

Qualified – 17th, Finished – 7th

Sauber already have as many points as they did in 2024 after a great drive from Nico Hulkenberg.

The German underperformed on Saturday and was outqualified by his rookie teammate after coming across traffic.

He made an excellent start, kept his cool during the race and finished ahead of some much-quicker cars.

Charles Leclerc – 5.5

Qualified – 7th, Finished – 8th

Awful start to the season for Ferrari and Charles Leclerc made several mistakes during qualifying and the race.

Would have finished higher had he not spun during the race and lost several places.

He re-ed Lewis Hamilton and Pierre Gasly but should have finished in the top-four. However, this wasn’t helped by his hesitant Ferrari team who didn’t know when to bring Leclerc into the pits for inters.

Oscar Piastri – 7

Qualified – 2nd, Finished – 9th

A great weekend for the home hero ruined by one lap – finishing well down in 9th.

McLaren were indecisive over whether to bring their drivers in when the rain came down. Both drivers slid off the track but while Lando Norris was lucky, Oscar Piastri got stuck in the grass.

Brilliantly overtook Lewis Hamilton and was told at one point to stay behind Lando Norris. Whether he had the pace to challenge Norris at that point though is unclear.

Lewis Hamilton – 5.5

Qualified – 8th, Finished 10th

Underwhelming first weekend with Ferrari for the seven-time world champion, taking just one point.

Didn’t make the same mistakes as Charles Leclerc but was off the pace compared to his teammate.

Ferrari’s inconsistent strategic calls might take Lewis Hamilton some time getting used to.

Pierre Gasly – 6

Qualified – 9th, Finished – 11th

It was a solid performance from Pierre Gasly though points were on the cards for him.

One mistake cost Pierre Gasly dear as he went off at Turn 1 and lost three places at once.

Yuki Tsunoda – 6.5

Qualified – 5th, Finished – 12th

Was superb in qualifying but failed to capitalise in the race.

Tsunoda was running as high as second at one stage but spun when the rain returned.

It was a similar story to the two Ferrari drivers as his team waited too long to pit him for inters and he reemerged outside the points.

Esteban Ocon – 6

Qualified – 19th, Finished – 13th

Worrying weekend for Haas who were the slowest of all 10 teams across the Australian GP weekend.

Kept his car out on track but failed to finish ahead of anyone other than his teammate as six cars failed to finish.

Last season, Haas would have challenged for points in this race, but their pace was nowhere near good enough on Sunday.

Oliver Bearman – 4

Qualified – 20th, Finished – 14th

Rotten weekend for Oliver Bearman who crashed on Friday and lost vital practice time.

On Saturday he suffered a spin in final practice and qualified in 20th position.

His performance on Sunday was more composed but still finished plum last out of the cars that finished.

Liam Lawson – 3

Qualified – 18th, DNF – Lap 46 Crash

Similar to Max Verstappen’s former teammates, Liam Lawson was well off the pace of the Dutchman qualifying in 18th while the reigning champion was up in 3rd.

Struggled with tyre issues early in the race and then crashed out as he tried to avoid pitting for intermediates when the race returned.

Ties with two other drivers for the lowest score in our Australian GP driver ratings.

Gabriel Bortoleto – 5

Qualified – 15th, DNF – Lap 45 Crash

The 2024 F2 champion showed plenty of promise on his debut at Albert Park in Melbourne.

He outqualified Nico Hulkenberg and was running just four seconds behind him when the safety car came out on Lap 32.

Pushed too hard on his first lap after switching to inters and crashed out on Lap 45.

Fernando Alonso – 5

Qualified – 12th, DNF – Lap 32 Crash

Perhaps the most surprising driver to crash out in the treacherous conditions given his 20+ years of experience.

Was faster than his teammate Lance Stroll throughout the weekend so could have been on for some good points had he finished.

Carlos Sainz – 4

Qualified – 10th, DNF – Lap 1 Crash

After some promising times in practice, was outqualified by Alex Albon in qualifying and crashed out at the end of the first lap.

Frustrating start for Sainz though he will be happy to see the promise shown by his new Williams team over the weekend.

Jack Doohan – 3

Qualified – 14th, DNF – Lap 1 Crash

Solid performance in qualifying but crashed out on the opening lap of the race all by himself.

In wet conditions, he picked up the power a little bit too quickly and he crashed into the wall.

Given that he is already facing pressure from Franco Colapinto for his seat, he can’t afford this kind of error.

Isack Hadjar – 3

Qualified – 11th, DNS – Formation Lap Crash

A rookie mistake cost Isack Hadjar from competing in his first Formula One race at the Australian GP.

Was the best-performing rookie in qualifying on Saturday, narrowly missing out on a spot in the final part of qualifying.

However, his crash before the race was mortifying for the young driver who will have to wait until the Chinese Grand Prix to take part in his first race.