Official 2025 Australian Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[rallycross]

paulguitar said:

Norris finished ahead 16/8.

Lando is super quick but let’s see if Piastri in his third year will out race him, I suspect he will but it will be super close and we will see some team fireworks if Piastri gets ahead of Lando early in the championship they will soon find the Papaya rules won’t work like last year ! A great driver pairing . Same could be said for Ferrari if Lewis starts beating Charles there will be some chaos in the team.

It’s shaping up to be a brilliant close season.

[TheDeuce]

rallycross said:

paulguitar said:

Norris finished ahead 16/8.

Lando is super quick but let’s see if Piastri in his third year will out race him, I suspect he will but it will be super close and we will see some team fireworks if Piastri gets ahead of Lando early in the championship they will soon find the Papaya rules won’t work like last year ! A great driver pairing . Same could be said for Ferrari if Lewis starts beating Charles there will be some chaos in the team.

It’s shaping up to be a brilliant close season.

Whoever takes an early lead must be supported by the team to get the job done, we know that much.

But even if Piastri only gets close to Lando this year, I think McLaren will continue to back him and develop him with care. They know what they 'probably' have with Piastri. He's a slow burn, Lando was a fast burn. That makes Lando more immediately exciting and gives him the first best shot at a title. I bet Piastri will equal or exceed whatever success Lando has longer term though.

[K50 DEL]

Here we go then…. Anyone else up for the start of the season??!

[Sandpit Steve]

So who’s up for the first practice session? Insomniacs, expatriates, overseas members?

05:30 for me in Dubai, getting up an hour early to watch P1.

[Digger]

I'm in yet briefly as need to get to bed.

First time I've watched a practise session so what to expect . . . Can someone enlighten me?

How far do they push the cars to the limits?

I assume this really a final shakedown for all the teams & in LH's case a continuation of getting to know his new car & team etc

[Sandpit Steve]

So we’re on! Jack Doohan with the only P1 he’s going to have all season.

[Sandpit Steve]

Lawson hit the wall already, but looks like he got away with it.

[Hustle_]

Digger said:

I'm in yet briefly as need to get to bed.

First time I've watched a practise session so what to expect . . . Can someone enlighten me?

How far do they push the cars to the limits?

I assume this really a final shakedown for all the teams & in LH's case a continuation of getting to know his new car & team etc

FP1 is earlier in the day than qualifying and race will be, also the track will be 'green' (not yet rubbered-in) so they won't do any qually simulations, or race sims really.

As you say, it's more shakedown / calibrate, check fuel consumption, begin to get a handle on the balance of the car, try to get the configuration of the car close, if not the final setup adjustments.

[Sandpit Steve]

First red flag of the season, as the T6 gravel trap ended up all over the circuit from many drivers cutting the corner.

[llewop]

K50 DEL said:

Here we go then…. Anyone else up for the start of the season??!

I was a tad tardy, woke up 5 mins into the session, but here for now.

Repeating the trick for FP2 might be a challenge…… and again tomorrow……

[Sandpit Steve]

Ollie Bearman with the first crash of the season at T9.

He’s okay, but how much of the session will remain after the mess has been cleared up?

[ettore]

paulguitar said:

FourGears said:

paulguitar said:

Lando outqualified Oscar 20-4 last season. That's pretty one-sided on pure pace.

Meh you win nothing in qualifying.

Norris finished ahead 16/8.

Quite. No excuses for Oscar this year either, he has nearly half the GP starts that Jackie Stewart had in his entire career.

Lando is super rapid.

[fttm]

Sandpit Steve said:

So who’s up for the first practice session? Insomniacs, expatriates, overseas members?

05:30 for me in Dubai, getting up an hour early to watch P1.

Not being aired here(Canada) until midnight ish due to clashing with hockey ffs , will catch up in morning

[M3ax]

I’m currently on Aussie time so this weekend is going to be perfect

[nnnitram]

Embarrassing showing from Liam in practice 1. I hope he picks his balls up and makes a proper effort for the rest of the weekend. The last thing we need is a Checco impersonator.

[llewop]

llewop said:

I was a tad tardy, woke up 5 mins into the session, but here for now.

Repeating the trick for FP2 might be a challenge…… and again tomorrow……

Made it again, without the aid of alarms, not sure I can be sure of repeating that for the race on Sunday so will probably have to set a nudge for that

[Piginapoke]

Morning all. Williams fastest in Q1 and Q2 so far? Trying not to get carried away!

[nnnitram]

P1 and P2*. We haven't had a Q yet. But yes they're looking rapid.

[HocusPocus]

Skiing today and thinking of F1.

[K50 DEL]

llewop said:

llewop said:

I was a tad tardy, woke up 5 mins into the session, but here for now.

Repeating the trick for FP2 might be a challenge…… and again tomorrow……

Made it again, without the aid of alarms, not sure I can be sure of repeating that for the race on Sunday so will probably have to set a nudge for that

Me too, watching on F1tv for the first time this year, enjoying the commentary so far. Alex Brundle is definitely a chip off the old block lol