The first grand prix of 2025 is almost upon us. Here’s the key information for the Australian Grand Prix.
Weather
In the days leading up to the grand prix weather forecasts have consistently indicated a high probability of showers throughout the day. The grand prix is due to start at 3pm local time and as yet there is no indication that will change.
Therefore, depending on how much rain falls and when it does, the track conditions are hard to predict. Very wet conditions could lead to a rolling start or a delay. Teams will have to be on their toes as the FIA has revised these regulations during the off-season following confusion at recent races.
Sunday will also be significantly cooler. Ambient temperatures reached around 33C during qualifying, but are expected to be around 10C lower during the race.
Start
The run to turn one often presents one of the best opportunities for drivers to gain places. The distance to the first corner at Albert Park is not among the shortest on the F1 calendar, but nor is it one of the easiest for drivers to make up places:
Distance from pole position to first braking zone. Source: Mercedes
Last year pole winner Max Verstappen kept his lead at the start. However the year before that he lost the lead to George Russell, who started second. Lando Norris, who took pole position during qualifying today, had a poor record of keeping his lead at the start last year.
Another feature of starts at Melbourne is the sharp right-left combination the drivers tackle first can contribute to collisions, notably during the late standing restart in 2023.
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Strategy
Last year drivers chose the following compounds to start the race on:
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The drivers have the following sets of dry weather tyres available for the grand prix:
| Driver | Hard | Hard | Medium | Medium | Soft | Soft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | Used | New | Used | New | Used | |
| Lando Norris | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Oscar Piastri | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Charles Leclerc | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Lewis Hamilton | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Max Verstappen | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Liam Lawson | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Andrea Kimi Antonelli | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| George Russell | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Lance Stroll | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Fernando Alonso | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Jack Doohan | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Pierre Gasly | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Esteban Ocon | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Oliver Bearman | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Isack Hadjar | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Alexander Albon | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Carlos Sainz Jnr | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Nico Hulkenberg | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Gabriel Bortoleto | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
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Last year Carlos Sainz Jnr won the race with a two-stop strategy, using two sets of hard tyres after starting on the medium rubber. Every driver who finished in the top 11 places used the same strategy, with two exceptions: Alonso and Hulkenberg, who started on hards and ran mediums in their middle stint before switching back to hards.
This year Pirelli believes a one-stop strategy is possible. However the forecast of rain means dry weather tyre strategies are unlikely to feature.
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Overtaking
Albert Park has four DRS zones but only two detection points, so getting within range once allows a driver to open their rear wing in the next two zones. The configuration is unchanged from last year.
Safety Cars and VSCs
The parkland circuit has limited run-off space which makes Safety Car periods and suspensions fairly common. Last year the Virtual Safety Car was used twice. That likelihood will influence teams’ strategies and incline them towards delaying tyre changes in the hope of catching a lucky break and being able to pit during a Safety Car period or similar.
The changes to the gravel trap at turn six could have a bearing on how many interruptions we see. It now extends up to the edge of the kerb, and throughout practice drivers have run into it, dragging gravel onto the circuit. That could create an additional hazard during the race.
Grid
The grid for this year’s race is as follows. Any changes between now and the start of the race will be added here:
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Over to you
Who’s your pick to win in Melbourne? Share your views on the Australian Grand Prix in the comments.
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2025 Australian Grand Prix
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