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Christian Horner and Max Verstappen have differing views on a key F1 debate (Image: Getty)
The 2025 season got underway on Sunday as laid down a marker, edging out in a nervy final-lap showdown at the . Norris and were tipped as favourites heading into the weekend following a strong pre-season testing showing, and the 25-year-old duly delivered at the Albert Park Circuit, scoring pole position and dominating the Grand Prix in treacherous conditions.
Further back in the field, there were a number of challenges. and had a less-than-stellar debut, while a number of rookies crashed out of the race, including Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson.
Keep up to date with the latest F1 news in our live blog below…
Horner and Verstappen at odds over recovery vehicle debate
believes that the stewards should have considered red-flagging the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday rather than sending recovery vehicles onto the track to clear away cars.
This was an opinion backed up by Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft, who was furious after Fernando Alonso’s crash led to trucks on a live racetrack.
“It’s never great seeing recovery circuits, recovery cars on the circuit when the cars are circulating, or there’s cars still looking to close up, and I suppose they’ll look at that,” Horner said.
He added: “They did inform all of us that was what they were doing. It was down to us to inform the drivers, but it’s always particularly [worrying] on a circuit that’s quite damp, and we’ve seen a lot of cars swapping ends with experienced drivers as well today. Sometimes you think, ‘Okay, should we just stop it here and take a restart?”
This stance was not aligned with that of , though. “Yeah, I think it was all fine,” the four-time world champion said after the Grand Prix. “I mean, if you crash into that, behind the safety car, then you’re really stupid.”
Max Verstappen was not concerned about the tractors on track (Image: Getty)
Norris questions Russell attitude after McLaren masterclass
has questioned the mentality of and after the Brit suggested that can already stop developing their 2025 car following the season opener in Australia.
“I know George made some comments earlier this weekend that they can just turn our focus to 2026,” he said. “If that’s their mentality, wonderful, but that’s not the mentality to have. Sorry, mate. We know we still have a lot of work to do on this year’s car.
“If you relax in this position, you fail. In Formula One, if you start thinking things are good and groovy, that’s when you get caught.”
Addressing the team’s favourites tag, he continued: “I do think we’re favourites because the team has done an amazing job, and the car is flying. We will have races where we struggle. If we started the season in Bahrain, I don’t think we would have won, and you wouldn’t be asking me this question.
“We are the team to beat, mainly because we have two drivers up there pushing each other. That helps. Do I think [that] me and Oscar pushing each other in qualifying yesterday allowed us to get one and a half, one-tenth more than the two drivers here because their team-mates aren’t as equipped or experienced? Yes, so add that into the equation as well.”
Good morning!
Good morning, and welcome to Express Sport’s F1 news blog. We’ll keep you up to date with all of the reactions and news after the Australian Grand Prix opened the season on Sunday.