Heartbreak for Piastri as Norris wins chaotic Australian Grand Prix

Lando Norris has claimed victory in a chaotic F1 season opener at Albert Park, holding out Max Verstappen’s Red Bull by 0.8s to win the Australian Grand Prix.

"Top race, especially with Max behind me," said Norris of his win in front of 131,547.

"I was pushing, especially the last two laps. It was a little bit stressful I'm not gonna lie, but amazing way to start the year.

"It was a tough one because we went off and we made some big mistakes, went through the gravel, a lot of damage, just tricky conditions - but these are the ones that are enjoyable and fun and unpredictable.

"We got it wrong a lot last year so I guess we learn from our mistakes."

Completing the podium was Mercedes’ George Russell in third.

"It was good fun, it was good fun," said Russell.

"I was quite enjoying it to be honest because I was hoping the two guys ahead would make a mistake and I could slip through.

"A massive congratulations to Lando, in a race like that, it is probably your worst nightmare but he did a great job."

Fourth went to Alex Albon's Williams, ahead of Mercedes' rookie Kimi Antonelli in fifth.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll was sixth, ahead of Kick Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg.

Charles Leclerc was next in the points in eighth with hometown hero Oscar Piastri caught in a Ferrari Sandwich, Lewis Hamilton rounding out the top ten on his debut in red.

Chaos ensued before the Grand Prix even began – with Isack Hadjar spinning out at turn two on the initial formation lap, sending his Racing Bulls car into the barriers and badly damaging his rear wing.

The French rookie was visibility distraught on his return to the paddock and was consoled by Anthony Hamilton, father of Lewis.

After a 15-minute delay, there was a second formation lap after which there was a race start. Piastri had a better start than Norris, but wet weather expert Verstappen was quickly past the Aussie out of the exit of turn two.

Two further cars were lost on the opening lap, with Aussie Jack Doohan spinning out his Alpine into the barriers after catching one of the many painted lines on the straight between turns 5 and 6. A safety car was immediately deployed.

The Williams of Carlos Sainz then ended up in the barriers on the outside of turn 14 – the final corner of the Albert Park circuit heading into the main straight.

After losing second place to Verstappen on the first lap of racing, Piastri got past the Dutchman on lap 17.

After closing the gap on Norris inch by inch, Piastri was told to hold position on lap 30. Three laps later on lap 33, the Aussie was told “Let’s go racing” over team radio.

The race was neutralised again a further lap later when another safety car was triggered by Fernando Alonso who spun his Aston Martin into the barriers at turn seven.

Lap 44 saw rain start over the third and final sector of the circuit, and for the leading McLarens, it hit at the completely wrong time.

Both Norris and Piastri ran wide out of turn 12 into the gravel – from which Norris got through practically unscathed. Unfortunately, the Aussie came off second best, running further wide and then off into the grass at turn 13, ruining his race. He was able to restart the car but ended up near a lap down by the time he got his McLaren going again.

Two further cars were lost out of the Grand Prix on lap 47, with Liam Lawson’s Red Bull off at turn two, while Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto went off into the grass at turn 13, the same place Piastri ended up. A safety car was triggered to recover both cars.

Through the carnage, Ferrari ended up in second and third behind the safety car, albeit on slick tyres, with Lewis Hamilton ahead of Charles Leclerc on his debut in red. Soon after, Ferrari made the call to pit the pair for intermediate tyres, and Lewis Hamilton was filthy.

The action next heads to Shanghai with the Chinese GP set for next Sunday.