MELBOURNE – Lando Norris will start the Australian Grand Prix from sixth position, whereas his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri qualified fifth, as both drivers expressed concerns about their car’s performance heading into Sunday’s race at Albert Park. The Australian Grand Prix marks the first race of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Norris, aiming to defend his position as a top contender after a strong 2025 showing, admitted to a frustrating qualifying session. “Not a very good, not a very nice day,” Norris told Sky Sports F1. “I think George [Russell] will be the only one who says it was a good one.”
The McLaren driver described inconsistencies in the car’s handling as a major issue. “It’s inconsistent. One lap is better, one lap is worse. I’ve been behind all weekend, haven’t done too many laps. A lot of issues with the car, I wish we didn’t have them, but it happens. We’re trying to fix them.”
Adding to the difficulties, Norris encountered debris on the track during Q3, damaging his front wing. “Luck hasn’t been on my side this weekend, for example in Q3 where I ran over some debris on the track and broke my front wing, so I’m reasonably happy with the position,” he said.
Piastri Qualifies Fifth in Front of Home Crowd
Australian driver Oscar Piastri will start one position ahead of Norris, giving local fans something to cheer for. Piastri finished qualifying 0.862 seconds behind George Russell’s pole-winning time and 0.1 seconds ahead of Norris.
“Today was a solid qualifying. We’re roughly where we expected to be, we were missing a little bit of performance. It could have been third, but every time we go out we’re still learning about these modern cars. But it’s a good base and we’ll see what we can do tomorrow to get on the podium,” Piastri stated on the McLaren website.
The qualifying results highlight the challenges McLaren faces as they attempt to build on their success from the 2025 season, where they secured the Constructors’ Championship for the first time since 1998. Norris finished second in the drivers’ championship last year, behind Max Verstappen, but is now looking to take the lead in the 2026 standings. The team acknowledges that maintaining their competitive edge will require continuous improvement and adaptation.
McLaren’s performance in Australia is particularly significant as they aim to establish themselves as consistent frontrunners. The team has invested heavily in development over the winter, focusing on addressing the weaknesses that hindered them in previous seasons. Norris specifically mentioned improvements made to prepare for challenging conditions, such as wet and slippery surfaces, which have often proved problematic in the past.
The Australian Grand Prix is known for its challenging track layout and unpredictable weather conditions. Albert Park, a temporary street circuit, demands precision and adaptability from drivers. The race is expected to be a strategic battle, with tire management and pit stop timing playing crucial roles.
The race will be the first of the 2026 Formula 1 season, and the first race where Lando Norris starts as the championship leader, having taken the lead after his win in the 2025 Australian Grand Prix. This win ended Max Verstappen’s 1029-day streak at the top of the standings.
The Australian Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM local time (AEDT) on Sunday, March 16, 2025. Fans around the world can follow the race live on official Formula 1 broadcasters.
Next up for the teams is the race itself, where they will look to translate their qualifying performance into points and gain an early advantage in the championship standings. The Australian Grand Prix promises to be an exciting event, with both McLaren drivers aiming to deliver a strong performance in front of a passionate crowd.
