Australian Grand Prix LIVE updates: Game on in race between Norris and Piastri after high drama at race start
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Updated March 16, 2025 — 4.16pmfirst published at 9.08am
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4.16pm
Two-time world champ is OUT
By Russell Bennett
Fernando Alonso is a high-powered casualty of an action-packed race.Credit: Getty Images
LAP 34
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has spun OUT of the Australian Grand Prix in stunning scenes on turn seven. The safety car has been deployed.
There are FOUR drivers out of the race now, but Alonso’s exit has dramatically livened things up as the strategic moves switch into overdrive.
They’ve got to go for it here – the time is now. A flurry of pitstops has been triggered – including both McLarens, with Piastri dropping back of Norris ever so slightly so they could “double-stack” without the Aussie being held up.
4.15pm
Well, well ,well
By Hannah Kennelly
A McLaren engineer instructed Piastri to “hold position” on lap 29, with the Melburnian chasing his teammate. When lap 33 finally comes around, the call Piastri has been waiting for comes through.
“Oscar you are free to race now, you know the rules,” the engineer says.
Ferrari racer Charles Leclerc has high-profile teammate Lewis Hamilton’s measure, despite some early discomfort behind the wheel.Credit: Getty Images
You’ve got to feel for the drivers. There’s already been several retirements (three in fact), safety cars and the drizzle won’t seem to stop.
“My seat’s full of water,” Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc tells his engineers.
That’s got to be uncomfortable.
LAP 32
Here comes Oscar Piastri. The local hope has cut the margin even more in the challenge to his catch his teammate Lando Norris. It’s consistently less than eight tenths of a second, the margin – at some stage as low as five tenths.
Remember: Oscar has DRS (the aerodynamic drag reduction system) at his disposal as long as he stays within a second of Norris, or any other car in front of him.
Click HERE to read all about DRS and how it works
LAP 26
It’s cat and mouse out there. The margin between Norris and Piastri is tightening. Strap yourself in, folks, this is shaping as a great grand prix and a head-to-head battle between the two McLaren teammates.
Placings:
Lance NorrisOscar PiastriMax VerstappenGeorge Russell
Charles Leclerc
Oscar Piastri hunts down Lando Norris.Credit: AP
LAP 21
It’s approaching a critical stage of the race – the middle laps of a rain-soaked grand prix. Right now it could come down to an enthralling race between the McLaren teammates as the top two on the grid move back to first and second in the placings. The skies are clear for the moment.
Max Verstappen in third is a bit of an unknown, but this is looking like a race in two – exactly what the fans would be salivating over.
Word has just come in that Piastri has set the fastest lap of the race. It’s game on, folks.
Positions:
Lance NorrisOscar PiastriMax VerstappenGeorge Russell
Charles Leclerc
Oscar Piastri heads off after teammate Lando Norris.Credit: Getty Images
LAP 17
The state of play:
Lance Norris
Oscar PiastriMax Verstappen
George Russell
Verstappen runs too deep, making a crucial Piastri overtake easier… and now Piastri is hunting down his teammate, Lando Norris. It’s a super rare mistake in the wet from Verstappen, but it happened just in the nick of time for the Australian ace. Another lap or two and Norris could have disappeared into the distance.
They’ve wasted no time activating the DRS in this race, with the conditions drying rapidly by the second.
And who’s the fastest on-track? It’s Oscar Piastri, hellbent on finding a way back past Max Verstappen, who caught him on the hop on lap one.
Look out though: In a couple of laps from now (we’re on lap 14, with Norris ahead of Verstappen and Piastri half a second behind second) we’re expecting another rain shower…
LAP 13
The gap between Verstappen in second and Piastri in third has shortened. Down to less than half a second. The field is down to 17 drivers and there’s elite drivers in the top 10, including Lewis Hamilton who holds on to eighth spot.
