Latest news with #AusGP
Telegraph
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Lando Norris v Oscar Piastri another McLaren battle royal that could end in tears
Helmut Marko has done a lot of talking in the last week. Red Bull's octogenarian motorsport adviser has been busy doing the rounds, on the radio and in the papers, defending the team's decision to jettison Liam Lawson after just two races and bring in Yuki Tsunoda. Marko's latest (self-serving) justification was to pin the blame on Adrian Newey for not promoting Tsunoda sooner, claiming the now-departed engineer was 'furious' with the Japanese for a crash in Mexico last year, which hurt Max Verstappen's chances in that race. 'From then on, Yuki was a red rag to him,' Marko told Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung. 'But now Newey is gone and Yuki has worked hard on himself.' Anyway, while there is justifiable intrigue within the F1 community to see how Red Bull's decision pans out in Suzuka this weekend, it was something Marko said almost as an aside during one of his many interviews, which was potentially of more significance as far as this year's title race is concerned. 'With an eight-point deficit after two races, nothing has really happened yet,' Marko noted of the drivers' championship, in which McLaren's Lando Norris leads Red Bull's Max Verstappen. 'Aside from the fact that Norris and Piastri will hopefully continue to steal points from each other for some time, a truly Verstappen-friendly track is coming up...' Marko may or may not be wrong about Lawson and Tsunoda, but he is definitely not wrong about Norris and Piastri. If the first two races of the year are anything to go by, McLaren's two drivers will be taking points off each other all season. Norris leads the drivers' championship on 44 points, with Piastri fourth, 10 points behind the Briton. But that is largely down to the fact that Piastri spun during the rain-affected Australian race, finishing ninth as Norris won. Until that spin – which of course he ultimately has to take the blame for – the Australian had looked to be a threat to Norris, even being instructed to hold position at one point after he closed. Where it all went wrong for home-hero @OscarPiastri 😱 #F1 #AusGP — Formula 1 (@F1) March 16, 2025 In China, Piastri was clearly the more comfortable of the two McLaren drivers, finishing second in the sprint and winning the feature race. Piastri's form raises a fascinating question as we head to one of the fastest and and most entertaining circuits on the calendar – if McLaren maintain their mechanical advantage over their rivals, which of their two drivers is favourite to win the title? The consensus within F1 up until now has generally been that Norris has fractionally more outright pace than Piastri, while the Australian is perhaps the more composed of the two. Is that fair? And if so, which of them is the more likely to improve on his weakness? Norris his mentality or Piastri his pace? 'I think Oscar at the moment has got the edge,' Guenther Steiner, the former Haas team principal, admitted on the Red Flags Podcast this week. 'In China, he showed he has the edge. All the time he was better so, I don't know, maybe Lando didn't like China. If I would have to put money on the world champion now, I would put it on Oscar Piastri.' One thing is for sure, now would be a good time for Norris to reassert himself over his team-mate. The 25-year-old can write off China as a track that does suit him all he likes, exposing his weakness with understeer and lack of front end grip. But it was a track on which he beat Piastri by more than 40 seconds last season. With McLaren promising no team orders until one or the other is well out of contention – indeed, Piastri's new contract is said to guarantee that – we could be set for an intra-team battle royal along the lines of those we have seen previously at the Woking team: Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, or Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. History suggests those battles can often end in tears. Marko will certainly be hoping that is the case. Red Bull are in the firing line now, but if McLaren squander the fastest car on the grid this year, focus will shift.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Lewis Hamilton remains optimistic despite difficult Ferrari debut
Lewis Hamilton insisted now is not the moment to throw the toys out of the pram as he said his Ferrari career will not be defined by one race. Hamilton's debut for the Italian giants ended in a disappointing 10th at last weekend's season-opening round in Australia. The 40-year-old admitted he was low on confidence following the rain-hit race. But speaking ahead of his second appearance for Ferrari in China, Hamilton said: 'It is not a moment to throw the toys out of the pram. 'It wasn't the race that we want but we move forward and everyone here has their heads high and the energy is still good in the garage. We are not defined by that, and we will not defined by one race.' For much of his first appearance in red, Hamilton ran in eighth, trailing Williams' Alex Albon, while politely asking new race engineer Riccardo Adami to 'leave it to me' on several occasions. Adami was urging Hamilton to use an overtake button in his Ferrari. New team, new race engineer for Lewis #F1 #AusGP — Formula 1 (@F1) March 16, 2025 But the seven-time world champion explained: 'Everyone over-egged that (the radio exchanges). It was literally just a back and forth. 'I was very polite. I wasn't swearing. I was really struggling with the car and I needed full focus on a couple of things. 'We are getting to know each other but there are no issues between us at all. 'Go and listen to the radio calls with others and their engineers. They are far worse. 'The conversation that Max (Verstappen) has with his engineer over the years, and the abuse that poor guy has taken. 'With us, we are literally just getting to know each other. 'Afterwards, I was like, 'hey, bro, I don't need that bit of information. But if you want to give me this, this is the place I'd like to do it. This is how I'm feeling in the car. And at these points, this is when I do and don't need the information'. 'And that's what it's about. There's no issues. It's done with a smiley face and we move forward.' This view of Piastri's overtake on Hamilton 🤩👏 🎥 @_aarava#F1 #AusGP — Formula 1 (@F1) March 17, 2025 Heading into this weekend's round in Shanghai, McLaren appear to hold an advantage over the rest of the field with Hamilton's former Mercedes team-mate George Russell even claiming the British team should win every race. Lando Norris leads the standings after his triumph in Australia. Hamilton, bidding for a record eighth title, said: 'I don't think we are on the pace of McLaren – they have done a great job and look very strong – but we can close the gap.'
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lando Norris holds off Max Verstappen to win wet Australian Grand Prix
Lando Norris survived a rain shower and late charge from Max Verstappen to open his season in style by winning a wild, wacky and thrilling Australian Grand Prix. With 13 laps remaining, both Norris and Oscar Piastri, who was running behind his McLaren team-mate in second place, ran off the road and through the gravel in the slippery conditions. Norris was able to dive into the pits to move back on the intermediate tyres and salvage victory, but Piastri ended up in the grass at the penultimate corner, scuppering McLaren's dream of a one-two, with him finishing ninth. Norris took the chequered flag just 0.8 seconds clear of world champion Verstappen with George Russell third for Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton finished a disappointing 10th on his Ferrari debut. Race 1 ✅ Here's the finishing order from a wild season opener, kicking off with the top ten 👇#F1 #AusGP — Formula 1 (@F1) March 16, 2025 Williams' Alex Albon was fourth, one place ahead of Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli. The late chaos had promoted Hamilton to the lead after Ferrari kept him out on slick rubber. But the seven-time world champion was forced to follow the rest of the field and move on to wets. Hamilton was furious with Ferrari's decision to keep him on the slick tyres. 'I didn't think it was going to rain much,' said Hamilton. 'We missed a big opportunity.' Hamilton dropped to ninth, swearing when he was told he had fallen so far back, before team-mate Charles Leclerc and then Piastri passed him on the final lap. The opening round of the season started in wild fashion after rookie Isack Hadjar crashed into the barriers on the second corner of the formation lap. The French-Algerian was in tears and received a consoling arm from Hamilton's father, Anthony, as he made his way back to the pits. When the race got under way after a 15-minute delay, Verstappen, starting third, was much quicker than Norris and Piastri off the line, but Norris moved aggressively to his right to hold off the Dutchman. Verstappen swooped round the outside of Piastri to take second place before rookie Jack Doohan put his Alpine in the wall. Out came the safety car on lap one, before Carlos Sainz crashed into the barriers at the final corner with three drivers out before the start of the second lap. On lap 17, Piastri moved clear of Verstappen and then set about reducing Norris' three-second advantage. By lap 30, Piastri was right on Norris' gearbox before he was controversially ordered to 'hold position' by McLaren's pit-wall. 'I am faster, but OK,' came the Australian's response. After falling two seconds behind Norris he was then told he was 'free to race' his team-mate. Moments later, Fernando Alonso was in the wall at Turn 11 leading to a second safety car. With the track drying out, the field pitted for slick rubber before the race re-started again on lap 41. But the rain arrived again just three laps later with Norris and Piastri running off the road. Norris came in for wets, dropping him to eighth. Verstappen assumed the lead and attempted to stay out on dry tyres, but had to stop two laps later for intermediate tyres. That gave Hamilton the lead but with the rain continuing to fall, he had no grip on his dry tyres and Norris was back in the lead. On lap 47, Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto both spun out leading to a third safety car, which came in with six laps remaining. Verstappen got to within half-a-second of Norris, but the British driver was able to keep him at bay to seal a fine win following a dramatic first round of the new campaign.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Piastri rocked in double disaster as rain wreaks havoc at Australian GP
Oscar Piastri's hopes of becoming the first home winner of the Australian Grand Prix in 45 years have suffered a cruel blow after he slid out of contention on a chaotic rain-affected opening race of the year. Fellow Aussie Jack Doohan also suffered a nightmare in his first ever home GP after crashing out of the race on the first lap. Piastri's McLaren teammate Lando Norris navigated the mayhem to win from pole, ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Mercedes driver George Russell. The biggest disappointment of the afternoon came when Piastri slid out of contention on lap 44, while in second behind teammate Norris. Both McLaren's had changed to slick tyres despite the threat of more rain and it proved the wrong move as the Aussie spun out of control with a podium place well within his sights to all but end his hopes. Piastri was denied the first pole position of his career by McLaren teammate Norris after the Brit beat his best time in qualifying by eight-hundredths of a second. And the misery was compounded for the McLaren driver on Sunday, in a horror afternoon for the Aussie drivers. Unfortunately for Doohan, the Alpine driver did not even make it past the first lap as he crashed out in the greasy conditions. A massive downpour on Sunday caused some of the earlier support races to be cancelled and there were concerns about Sunday's F1 race being delayed and potentially shortened due to the treacherous conditions. After a brief delay to start the race, the action got underway with the two McLaren's shooting out ahead of the pack and taking an early lead. But Doohan's hopes quickly went up in smoke as he slid out of contention, sparking the first safety car of the race. There were more dramatic scenes on the opening lap as the drivers struggled to get to grips - quite literally - with the greasy track at Albert Park. Fellow rookie Isack Hadjar also crashed out, while new Williams driver Carlos Sainz left the tarmac under the yellow flag after hitting the wall and retiring his car in a chaotic opening to Sunday's race. Safety Car deployed 🟡Jack Doohan is OUT of the race on the first lap 😩Doohan we all with you 👍👍#F1 #AusGP #doohan#jackdooohan — The खबर (@TheNew685796) March 16, 2025 The biggest downpours happened earlier in the day, with the rain mostly clearing before the race got underway a little later than the scheduled 3pm (AEDT) start time in Melbourne. Stewards conducted an extensive check before giving the all-clear for the season-opening race to go ahead, but with weather radars indicating more scattered showers on the horizon, it was always expected to be an eventful race. Two-time former world champion Fernando Alonso became the fourth competitor to see his race ended after a heavy crash for the veteran Aston Martin driver. Alonso's back right wheel almost came off after a forceful collision with the wall at turn 6, causing debris to scatter across the track and the second safety car of the day to be deployed on lap 34. LAP 34⚠️ SAFETY CAR ⚠️🛑 ALONSO OUT! 🛑He touches the kerb and gravel through Turn 6, SPINS and CRASHES his car into the wall smashing the right side suspension after doing a is OK and out of the car.#F1 #F125MEL #MEL #AusGP #Formula1 #F175 — F1 Racing (@F1racing) March 16, 2025 Many of the drivers took the opportunity to change to slicks during the second safety car, with Norris streaking ahead once again when the race resumed. But there was another disaster for Aussie fans moments later as more rain came down and Piastri slid off the track while in second place, as his hopes were all but ended. Piastri was vying to end Australia's long wait to have a local driver on the top of the podium and the McLaren ace went into the race full of confidence after an impressive showing in qualifying. But the weather that had threatened to cause all sorts of problems before the race, delivered a dagger blow to the Aussie on Sunday. Disaster for home town boy Oscar Piastri at the 2025 Australian Formula One Grand Prix, with the McLaren jet spinning out on lap 44.A tense race has been complicated by the arrival of more rain, with the added water leading to Piastri's disastrous was able to get… — 10 Sport (@10SportAU) March 16, 2025 That's a major disaster for Oscar Piastri 😕#AustralianGP — Bling-Van-Gandhi 🇿🇼 🇲🇿 (@takuxy8) March 16, 2025 Absolute heartbreak for Oscar Piastri as he plummets down to P13 😭😭😭#F1 #McLaren #AustralianGP — McLaren F1 Zone 🟠 (@TheMcLarenZone) March 16, 2025 thinking how damn happy oscar was this whole weekend and he was doing well the whole race and now this happened. my heart is so heartbroken for him. 🙁💔 — dea (@junopiastri) March 16, 2025
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Oscar Piastri eyeing epic 45-year first after brutal act from McLaren teammate
Hometown hero Oscar Piastri says he's "the most relaxed" he's been heading into an Australian Grand Prix, despite being denied a special piece of history by McLaren teammate, Lando Norris. Melbourne-born Piastri will start second on the grid behind Norris for Sunday's race at Albert Park but came within a whisker of becoming the first Australian to claim pole for his home race. Piastri had history within his grasp after going to the top of the times with just seconds remaining in qualifying, until McLaren teammate Norris denied the local hope in dramatic fashion. Norris had an earlier lap time deleted for exceeding track limits but almost immediately went faster than Piastri after seeing the home crowd erupt at his teammate's sizzling time. In a cruel twist for Piastri, he was pipped to pole by just eight hundredths of a second as Norris completed a McLaren one-two. Piastri insisted he wasn't too disappointed after giving it everything he had, but admitted he would have liked to be one place higher on the grid and taken his place in Australian motorsport history. 'Pretty happy. It's obviously great to start the year on the font row - only one position back from what I would've liked,' Piastri said. 'Just not quite enough in Q3 but I'm pretty happy with a solid start. Sector three I lost a little bit of time ... maybe left a little bit on the table but it was pretty tricky out there for everybody. "I wouldn't say I'm disappointed (not to get pole) because I feel like I did a job that I'm happy with. I think if I was sitting here going I had another two-tenths in hand and I blew it then I'd be pretty upset. But I feel like I've executed well this weekend so that's all I can ask for myself." 📻 "Not a bad way to start the year"Kicking off the season with a front-row lockout for @McLaren 🟠#F1 #AusGP — Formula 1 (@F1) March 15, 2025 Piastri now has a chance to become the first hometown winner of the Australian Open in 45 years, when Aussie motorsport legend Alan Jones raced to victory in 1980. Piastri will have the majority of a massive crowd inside the Albert Park circuit cheering him on, but the 23-year-old says he's feeling relaxed and not about to let the weight of expectation burden him. Piastri won two races last season to help his McLaren team claim an unexpected constructors championship and he's hoping to keep that momentum going in the year's first race. "This is the most relaxed I've been at my home race," Piastri said. "The first two years, especially the first year I came here, it was a pretty overwhelming experience. Even last year, it was still a pretty big experience. This year I've just been able to enjoy it a bit more; maybe because I've been a bit more confident in the car under me. "But I've really been enjoying it and been enjoying the support. I feel like the support's gone up a little bit since last year as well. It's amazing what happens when you start winning stuff. But no, it's great to have all the home support and very appreciated." Norris admitted his pole position was bittersweet as it came at the expense of his teammate and a slice of history, but the Englishman said it was just part of the sport. "It's also my job, and it's what I get paid to do," Norris said. "What's written in my contract is I have to go out and drive as quick as I can. It's a difficult one because every country backs their drivers a lot." Piastri's fellow Australian, Jack Doohan, will start his first home GP from 14th after putting in a solid effort before being eliminated in Q2. "Unlucky with the yellow flag, which brought a close to our chances," Doohan said. "We were looking very strong, even on that (last) lap, we were two-tenths up before that happened." Red Bull's four-time world champion Max Verstapppen will start behind the McLarens in third, one spot ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell. Fellow Brit and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamiton qualified eighth in his highly-anticipated driving debut for Ferrari. Haas rookie Oliver Bearman's nightmare weekend continued as he failed to record a lap time after suffering gearbox trouble and will start from 20th and last on the grid.
