Australian GP Qualifying: McLaren Makes Waves, Ferrari Lays Low
In Formula One, the real show starts on Saturday. During qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix, two of the series’ top teams, McLaren and Ferrari, sent very different messages to fans. Whether it be the return of a dominant car, preparations for rain, or the stark differences between teammates, fans were able to learn a lot from the session. One thing is for certain: Sunday is bound to be a spectacle.
The McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri came onto the track with a statement to make. With both drivers setting the fastest lap times during the latter two Free Practices, it was not a shock when their MCL39 performed well during qualifying. Piastri especially had to show McLaren his worth, as his historic contract extension with the papaya team was announced this past week. Speaking of papaya, there will notably be no team orders, or “papaya rules” as Zak Brown liked to call them, during the race on Sunday, allowing both drivers to push themselves to the limit. Will Norris be the first leader of the 2025 Drivers’ Championship, or will Piastri break the Australian’s curse at home?
It is obvious to even the most novice Formula One fan that Ferrari is preparing for Sunday’s weather forecast of heavy rain. Their newest driver, seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, is known for his race pace in the wet, and Charles Leclerc has also shown improvement in the unpredictable terrain. The Italian team had a disappointing qualifying session, ending with Leclerc in P7 and Hamilton in P8, but have placed their trust in their veteran lineup to deliver on Sunday. Hamilton has admitted to the press that he is still learning the ways of the car, saying “just the normal set-up changes you make, it’s difficult to say too much but there are all new tools that I’m still trying to get my head around and understand exactly where it impacts the car.” Acclimating himself to a new car after 11 years with the same constructor will obviously take time for Hamilton, but Ferrari has put their faith into the Briton to deliver.
