It’s the start of the 2025 season and the pressure is on Max Verstappen as he endeavours to win his 5th Formula One World Drivers’ Championship (WDC).
Norris claims back-to-back victories
The season opener was held at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia. The rain affected race saw plenty of incidents but it was Lando Norris who took the chequered flag. In a commanding performance the Mclaren driver translated pole position into his first win of the season, continuing in 2025 where he left off at the end of 2024.
The victory was Norris’ fifth career win and his first consecutive win, having topped the podium at the final race of the 2024 season in Abu Dhabi.
It also means he is the first Mclaren driver to lead the World Championship since Lewis Hamilton after the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix.
Ending Verstappen’s record run
Of course, being the fist race of the season means Norris is leading the 2025 World Championship, halting Verstappen’s record run.
Max Verstappen had been leading the World Championship for 63 races since the Spanish Grand Prix of May 2022. That’s an incredible 1,029 days at the top, the longest in Formula 1 history by over 100 days. The previous record was held by Michael Schumacher with a streak of 896 days from 2000-2003.
Verstappen has won four consecutive World Championship titles, becoming just the fifth driver to do so. If Australia is a sign of things to come, he will be facing stiff competition for the 2025 title.
Next race: China – Shanghai International Circuit. Sprint race 22nd March, Grand Prix 23rd March.
Kate On Wheels 
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