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AUSTRALIAN GP

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Quali. 15 Mar 2025  05:00 - 06:00    |    Race 16 Mar 2025  04:00 - 06:00
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AUSTRALIAN GP

START RACE
Quali. 15 Mar 2025  05:00 - 06:00    |    Race 16 Mar 2025  04:00 - 06:00
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McLaren's Norris Piastri Secure Top 5 Starts

Norris Surprised by Top 5 Start in Rainy Qualifying

27/07/2024

Despite challenging rain, Norris and Piastri outperform expectations, securing top 5 starts for McLaren in the race.

Lando Norris did not hide his disappointment after qualifying fifth, which will see him start fourth on the grid following Max Verstappen’s penalty. The McLaren F1 driver struggled in the rain and hopes for a more positive race for himself and his team.

“It was tough, but I’m also very happy today. In the end, we lacked performance compared to the cars in front, especially against the Red Bulls who are at another level in the rain and probably a bit better in the dry,” Norris stated.

The Briton, however, believes he salvaged a rather solid position: “A difficult day but I expected worse. I didn’t drive very well, it wasn’t working well, a bit like yesterday. I’m happy to have managed to secure fifth place.”

Despite Verstappen’s 11th place, Norris remains wary of the Red Bulls throughout the race: “We’re in a good position but Red Bull is on pole. It will be tough, Max will quickly move up and we’ll have to fight him for the win. I hope that with a bit more support, it might turn in our favor.”

Oscar Piastri recorded the sixth fastest time and will start fifth: “Yes, it was tough, our pace seemed reasonable often enough. In Q3, we slightly missed the tyre strategy, but it’s hard to predict with the rain.”

“We tried to do what was safe but it wasn’t the right solution. We have two cars in the top 5 tomorrow and Spa is a track where you can make up ground. And our pace in the dry is promising.”

Piastri is not giving up on a very good result tomorrow: “I think the first lap was the one where you had to get it right on new tyres, and I made a few small errors. It’s hard to get everything right in these conditions but I suffered for it.”

“I think we can still fight for the win tomorrow, our pace was good in the dry yesterday. We’re starting a bit further back, which complicates things but we’re in a good position to contend for the win.”

McLaren’s Norris Piastri Secure Top 5 Starts McLaren’s Norris Piastri Secure Top 5 Starts

F1 Standings 2025
F1 Standings 2025
#
Driver
Points
1
Driver Flag
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
0
2
Driver Flag
Lando Norris
McLaren
0
3
Driver Flag
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
0
4
Driver Flag
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
0
5
Driver Flag
Carlos Sainz
Williams
0
6
Driver Flag
George Russell
Mercedes
0
#
Team
Points
1
McLaren
Norris & Piastri
0
2
Ferrari
Leclerc & Hamilton
0
3
Red Bull
Verstappen & Lawson
0
4
Mercedes
Russell & Antonelli
0
5
Aston Martin
Alonso & Stroll
0
6
Alpine
Gasly & Doohan
0
F1 Calendar 2025
F1 CALENDAR 2025
Race Date
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Australian
Albert Park
16 Mar
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Chinese
Shanghai International Circuit
23 Mar
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Japanese
Suzuka Circuit
6 Apr
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
13 Apr
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Saudi Arabian
Jeddah Street Circuit
20 Apr
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Australian GP
13 Mar - 16 Mar
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FP1 13 MAR 15:30
FP2 13 MAR 19:00
FP3 14 MAR 15:30
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