Australia – FP1: Norris fastest, Bearman in the wall

Finally, the F1 resumed its rights this Friday morning in Melbourne. The first free practice session of the 2025 season was dominated by Lando Norris After a very lively hour of driving, the drivers began by getting their bearings on medium tires, some complaining of slight problems with their cars. Esteban Ocon judged his Haas a little too high, while George Russell was very hot in his cockpit, a recurring problem for Mercedes last year.

After just twenty minutes, the session was interrupted by a red flag, following several drivers going over the kerb at Turn 6, where a gravel trap has been installed this year. The presence of a large number of stones on the circuit prompted race control to briefly interrupt the session to sweep the area.

Jack Doohan was among those to have bitten into the trap, but the Australian stayed on track, as did Liam Lawson, despite his front right wheel hitting one of the walls on the Melbourne track. However, for Oliver Bearman, a small mistake had serious consequences. The Briton went off after the sequence of turns 11 and 12 and lost control of his car. car, crashed into the wall. The dramatic accident destroyed his Haas and caused a second red flag twenty minutes from the end.

Carlos Sainz, who switched to soft tyres before the red flag, held the fastest time, which was only beaten one minute from the end of the session by Lando Norris. The former driver Ferrari, already the fastest during pre-season testing, finished second ahead of Charles Leclerc, his former teammate. You have to go down to 7th place to find the first Mercedes, that of George Russell, who made a small mistake in the final moments. The Briton's spin, following one of his wheels hitting the grass, was – fortunately for him – without consequences.

F1 – Australian GP
The ranking of Free Practice 1