Formula Journal

The first race of the season commenced last Sunday and if you’re a dedicated Brit like me you woke up at 4am (or earlier) to watch the race, and I don’t regret it one bit….. The Australian Grand Prix was brutal and full of entertainment, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats until the checkered flag.

Before the race even started rookie Isack Hadjar crashed on the formation lap. When he walked back through the pit lane Anthony Hamilton was there to comfort him, which was a very heartfelt moment to watch.

As soon as the lights went out Verstappen was on the tail end of Norris with Oscar behind him. Also on the first lap rookie Jack Doohan slipped in the rain and found himself in the wall along with Carlos Sainz during the safety car, unlucky for him in his first race with Williams.

Great race for Lando Norris but unfortunately not so lucky for home boy Oscar Piastri. Both McLaren drivers found themselves in the grass. Lando was able to scrape out alive and still led the Grand Prix but Oscar found himself stuck in the grass. Oscar did eventually reverse and commence his race but fell down the pack after being 2nd, leaving Max in his place.

Unfortunately the weather was nobody’s friend as by the end Fernando Alonso, Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto crashed too.

It was an unfortunate day for the Ferrari’s, Leclerc and Hamilton finishing 8th and 10th respectively, with both of them bickering with their engineers. Nothing has changed.

In the last couple of laps Verstappen began hunting, gaining DRS (Drag Reduction System) on Norris, it was a fight until the very end but Norris made it stick and he was the one to stand on the top step of the podium and earn driver of the day.

Also an amazing F1 debut by Kimi Antonelli whose 5 second penalty was reversed and he finished P4, next to teammate George Russell who finished P3. Alex Albon brought the points home for Williams in P5, the car is looking hopeful for the rest of the season. For the first time in a very, very long time someone other than Max Verstappen is leading the Drivers’ Championship and Lando Norris is the one to end that streak.