The 2025 Formula 1 season kicked off in Australia with eventful first practice sessions. FP1 was marked by two red flags, one due to Ollie Bearman’s crash at Turn 9/10, and another for gravel cleanup. Lando Norris set the fastest lap of the session with a 1m 17.252s run on soft tires, showcasing McLaren’s early pace. Several rookies, including Liam Lawson, Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar, and Gabriel Bortoleto, made their F1 debuts. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen demonstrated early speed, but both Doohan and Verstappen also experienced off-track excursions into gravel traps. Lewis Hamilton struggled, finishing 12th.
FP2 saw Charles Leclerc top the timesheets with a 1m 16.439s lap on soft tires, followed closely by the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The session also saw a near-miss between Norris and Lawson in the pit lane while Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly got personal with the gravel traps. Bearman remained sidelined due to repairs from his FP1 incident. Leclerc and Hamilton initially led on mediums, but the order changed as drivers switched to softs. Yuki Tsunoda and Hadjar from Racing Bulls had strong showings, finishing fourth and sixth, respectively. Verstappen’s setup changes limited his track time, placing him seventh. Lawson struggled during race simulations, and rookies Antonelli and Bortoleto also faced challenges.
Overall, the practice sessions were action-packed, revealing the competitive landscape of the 2025 season. Ferrari and McLaren demonstrated strong pace, while other teams navigated various challenges. The stage is now set for an exciting FP3 and qualifying session on Day 2.