Sports

Rain Delays 2025 Australian Grand Prix Start Amid Rookie Drama

Published

3 hours ago

March 16, 2025

ALBERT PARK, Australia — The 2025 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is set to begin this afternoon at 3 p.m. AEDT, although heavy rain has already led to the cancellation of multiple support races in the lead-up to the event.

As clouds linger over Albert Park, organizers are preparing for a rain-impacted race rather than outright cancellation. The anticipated downpour has been steady since this morning, but forecasts suggest conditions may improve as the day progresses.

Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is broadcasting the race live in 4K without interruptions during racing. First-time subscribers to Kayo can access the streaming platform for just $1 for their first month.

This morning, in a sobering scene, Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar was seen in tears following a crash on the formation lap. He was comforted by Anthony Hamilton, father of champion Lewis Hamilton, as he made his way back to the paddock.

“I think it will be chaos,” said Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies, on Saturday. “It’s a city track, you have six rookies on track, you have lots of rain coming.”

The weather already wreaked havoc on earlier races, such as the Formula 3 feature race that began at 9 a.m. local time, which had to conclude behind the safety car after several incidents compelled race officials to throw red flags by Lap 18.

Supercars Race 7 also fell victim to the weather, being called off after two laps due to hazardous track conditions. The same fate awaited the afternoon’s Formula 2 race.

“It looks like the race is going to start wet,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Fox Sports. “In these conditions, anything can happen.”

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts 20 mm of rain will fall across Melbourne today, with a high likelihood of showers continuing into the late afternoon, accompanied by a chance of thunderstorms.

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri is on the cusp of making history by becoming the first Australian to finish on the podium at his home Grand Prix. Piastri narrowly missed out on pole position, finishing just a tenth of a second shy, but will still start alongside McLaren teammate Lando Norris in a front-row lockout.

“I’m pumped for the race,” said Piastri. “Even finishing second or third would mean so much to me, especially being at home.”

No Australian driver has achieved a podium finish at the Australian Grand Prix to date, with Daniel Ricciardo’s disqualification in 2014 after crossing the line in second place standing as the closest attempt.

The starting grid for the Australian Grand Prix is as follows:

Front row: Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren), Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren)

2nd row: Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull), George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)

3rd row: Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/RB), Alexander Albon (THA/Williams)

4th row: Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari), Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Ferrari)

5th row: Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine), Carlos Sainz (ESP/Williams)

6th row: Isack Hadjar (FRA/RB), Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin)

7th row: Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin), Jack Doohan (AUS/Alpine)

8th row: Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA/Sauber), Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA/Mercedes)

9th row: Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Sauber), Liam Lawson (NZL/Red Bull)

10th row: Esteban Ocon (FRA/Haas), Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas)

The complete schedule for Sunday at the Australian Grand Prix includes: