Lando Norris secures top spot in Australian GP practice session

In Australia on March 14, 2025, the first Formula One practice session of the season took place, marking a significant event for both veteran and rookie drivers. Lando Norris, driving for McLaren, showcased his skill by finishing at the top of the timesheet, with a time of 1:17.252 seconds. He finished ahead of Carlos Sainz, who performed well for Williams after transitioning from Ferrari, and Charles Leclerc, who secured the third position for Ferrari. This session was pivotal for Norris, as it reinforced his status as a favorite for the world championship this season. Interestingly, the session was marred by an unfortunate incident involving rookie driver Oliver Bearman. In his debut practice for Haas, Bearman crashed into the wall after attempting to recover from a mistake at Turn 10, which resulted in significant damage to his vehicle and caused a red flag that interrupted the session. Bearman's crash was significant not just for him but also contributed to a sizeable delay in proceedings, with nearly a third of the hour-long session lost to clean-up efforts. Despite this setback, Bearman’s previous three race appearances, one for Ferrari and two for Haas, had showcased his potential, leading to high expectations for his full season debut. The practice session also saw Lewis Hamilton struggling in his first outing with Ferrari, finishing in a disappointing 12th place, a stark contrast to his illustrious career and seven championship titles. Hamilton's noted difficulties with adapting to the car’s handling were specifically aired over the team radio, where he expressed struggles with turning the car effectively. In contrast, his teammate Charles Leclerc managed to put in a commendable performance, setting a benchmark that Hamilton could not reach. Following the initial red flag due to Bearman's incident, a second red flag was triggered earlier in the session because of gravel being scattered on the track, further disrupting the flow of practice. The session concluded with a well-fought battle for positions, underscoring a dramatic start to the new F1 season, with Lando Norris indicating strong potential for a championship run, while other competitive narratives, like Sainz’s impressive showing and Hamilton’s struggles, kept fans on edge about what the forthcoming races might bring.