Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton

2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix - Friday Practice - As it happened

A recap of what happened during practice for the 2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix.

14 Mar 2025
04:49
What happened in FP1?

It was Lando Norris who set the pace for McLaren in first practice. More impressively, though, Carlos Sainz was second-fastest in his first official outing for Williams.

Ollie Bearman crashed heavily after running wide at Turn 11. No news from Haas just yet if Bearman's car has been repaired in time for FP2.

04:15
What alarmed Martin Brundle after FP1?

“I think he will be a bit frustrated with that first session. He looked very good early on. It depends if he had some issues - we will find out later.”

 
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton
02:37
The full times in FP1
2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix - Free Practice Results (1)
PosDriverNat.TeamTime
1Lando NorrisGBRMcLaren F1 Team1m17.252s
2Carlos SainzESPAtlassian Williams Racing1m17.401s
3Charles LeclercMONScuderia Ferrari HP1m17.461s
4Oscar PiastriAUSMcLaren F1 Team1m17.670s
5Max VerstappenNEDOracle Red Bull Racing1m17.696s
6Alex AlbonTHAAtlassian Williams Racing1m17.713s
7George RussellGBRMercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team1m17.716s
8Fernando AlonsoESPAston Martin Aramco F1 Team1m17.736s
9Isack HadjarFRAVisa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team1m17.847s
10Lance StrollCANAston Martin Aramco F1 Team1m18.057s
11Yuki TsunodaJPNVisa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team1m18.061s
12Lewis HamiltonGBRScuderia Ferrari HP1m18.071s
13Jack DoohanAUSBWT Alpine F1 Team1m18.232s
14Kimi AntonelliITAMercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team1m18.390s
15Gabriel BortoletoBRAStake F1 Team Kick Sauber1m18.438s
16Liam LawsonNZLOracle Red Bull Racing1m18.455s
17Pierre GaslyFRABWT Alpine F1 Team1m18.505s
18Nico HulkenbergGERStake F1 Team Kick Sauber1m18.586s
19Esteban OconFRAMoneyGram Haas F1 Team1m19.139s
20Oliver BearmanGBRMoneyGram Haas F1 Team1m19.312s
02:31
Top 10

Norris, Sainz, Leclerc, Piastri, Verstappen, Albon, Russell, Alonso, Hadjar and Stroll.

02:31
Chequered flag

Norris is fastest in FP1 ahead of Sainz and Leclerc. 

02:30
A late spin for Russell

Russell has a spin at Turn 3. He dropped a wheel on the grass before this spin. No damage done, though. 

02:29
Albon improves

He improves to sixth - but he's 0.4s off Norris, who has just gone fastest for McLaren.

02:24
Hamilton radio

"I am struggling to turn the car," Hamilton reports over team radio. 

02:22
Piastri into third

Piastri puts his McLaren third on the softs, 0.269s down on Sainz. 

02:19
10 minutes on the clock

The session is back underway after Bearman's car has been cleared. 

02:14
15 minutes on the clock

Sainz, Leclerc, Verstappen, Russell, Alonso, Hadjar, Norris, Antonelli, Hamilton and Piastri. 

02:09
Another red flag

Bearman has crashed at Turn 10. He's out of the car. 

02:07
Sainz goes fastest

Williams showing their hand early on as Sainz sets the pace for Williams with a 1m17.401s, 0.295s ahead of Verstappen.

02:01
Verstappen goes fastest

A 1m17.696s for the reigning world champion on the softs. Russell goes second - also on the red-marked rubber - 0.020s off the pace. 

02:00
A switch to the softs

A number of drivers are already trying out the soft tyres. Russell has just gone fastest in the first sector. 

01:55
FP1 back underway

The gravel has been cleared and FP1 is back underway. 

Leclerc, Russell, Hadjar, Norris, Verstappen, Hamilton, Sainz, Tsunoda, Gasly and Alonso.

01:52
Red flag

There's debris on track. The session has been halted.

01:47
Good lap from Russell

He puts his Mercedes second overall, 0.150s down on Leclerc's top time.

01:42
Leclerc returns to the top

He's lowered the benchmark now to a 1m17.880s, 0.3s ahead of Norris. Verstappen has slotted into third overall. 

01:41
Top 10 after 10 minutes

Norris, Leclerc, Gasly, Sainz, Piastri, Alonso, Hamilton, Russell, Verstappen and Stroll.

01:39
Leclerc on top now

It's a 1m18.317s now from Leclerc, putting him 0.3s ahead of Piastri. Leclerc's time is already two-tenths ahead of the fastest time from last year's FP1 session at the Australian GP. 

01:37
Norris lowers the benchmark

A strong time from Norris as he lowers the benchmark to a 1m18.765s, 0.3s ahead of Hamilton in second. 

01:35
Verstappen sets the early pace

It's Verstappen on top at the moment in the RB21 - a 1m19.771s for the Red Bull driver, putting him 0.2s ahead of Leclerc.

Times will come down very quickly as drivers get up to speed, while the track will ramp up throughout the weekend. 

01:32
Hamilton out on track

A historic moment for Hamilton, who's just hit the track for the first time in his Ferrari. What can he achieve this weekend?

Hamilton has an incredible record at Albert Park, particularly in qualifying. He claimed pole at every race in Melbourne from 2014 to 2019. 

01:30
FP1 is underway

Here we go then. The 2025 F1 season is officially underway at Albert Park.

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