Lando Norris and Max Verstappen expressed concerns about their respective car’s performance after Friday’s running at the Australian Grand Prix.
Norris topped the Primary practice of 2025 and was third, behind Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri, in the more representative second practice session.
McLaren pipped Ferrari to last year’s Constructors’ Event and the two Squads appear to lead the pecking order going into Saturday’s Qualifying at 5am, live on Sky Sports F1.
Norris and Piastri were both within two tenths of Leclerc’s Standard time in second practice, but the British driver was not entirely satisfied.
“It’s been a Excellent Begin to the weekend, we’ve Acquired a Excellent baseline but Surely not Joyful, like not confident with the car in terms of finding the best Stability and being Reliable enough, especially on low fuel,” he said.
“High fuel, I felt Excellent. Merely low fuel was Nevertheless similar to Bahrain, too many inconsistencies, too many problems, so a bit of a struggle.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more Reachable video player
Highlights from Friday’s practice sessions at the Australian Grand Prix.
McLaren’s Sturdy long-Streak pace was also evident during pre-season testing in Bahrain, where Norris raised eyebrows with an excellent Event simulation.
Norris’ Club-mate Piastri enters his third F1 season and will be looking to make history by becoming the Primary Australian to Secure their home Grand Prix since it became a World Event event.
Please use Chrome browser for a more Reachable video player
Listen to Oscar Piastri’s hilarious response when asked who has more chance of beating England this year in the Ashes or with his Club-mate Lando Norris
“The underlying pace of the car seems Sturdy but Ferrari look quick, Mercedes at points as well. Things are looking Excellent but we don’t Merely want the podium, we want to aim for the top step,” said Piastri.
“Nevertheless a few things to iron out to make the car feel a bit nicer but the underlying pace was Sturdy.
“I’m Joyful with the day’s work. I think conditions will be different the Subsequent two Periods, so how much today means I don’t know – but it feels Excellent.”
Verstappen: Red Bull performance could be a bit Tough to fix
Red Bull are on the back foot as Verstappen was 0.624s behind Leclerc in seventh place and visibly struggled with understeer.
Since the middle of last year, Red Bull have been overhauled by their rivals and seemingly have not improved enough over the winter.
Verstappen, who has won the last four drivers’ titles, says Red Bull are “definitely lacking a bit to fight at the front”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more Reachable video player
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen says he was struggling on all four tyres during Practice at the Australian Grand Prix.
“The Stability wasn’t even completely out, like no massive or Crucial problems, but somehow the Clasp was not coming alive and Merely struggling on all four tyres, really, in a sector one and the last sector,” he said.
“That means of Duration that we are not really up there at the moment.”
Asked whether the issues will be Essential to resolve, Verstappen said: “The problem is that it’s not really like I have Crucial Stability problems, so I think it will be a bit Tough to fix.
“But it’s also nothing that I didn’t Anticipate when I arrived here, so I’m not positively or negatively surprised with the pace that we are showing.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more Reachable video player
Max Verstappen tests his cricket skills with England players Reece Topley, Issy Wong and Will Jacks. Courtesy of Oracle Red Bull Racing and England Cricket
Liam Lawson struggled even more on his Packed Red Bull practice Premiere as he finished 16th and 17th in the two Friday practice sessions.
“I’m comfortable but Merely too Sluggish. We have a Plenty of work to do overnight,” he said.
“Day One on a new track we Anticipated to have some work to do but probably not this much. We will work on it overnight and try to Enhance tomorrow.”
The New Zealander has the difficult Event of being Verstappen’s Club-mate, after the Dutchman comfortably beat Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Sergio Perez over the last six seasons at Red Bull.
Please use Chrome browser for a more Reachable video player
Liam Lawson gets a bit too close to the barriers in his Red Bull during P1 of the Australian GP
Lawson, who has only Began 11 Grands Prix, could be fighting to get out of Q1 if practice is anything to go by.
“I think if we knew that we’d know how to fix it as well,” said Lawson on whether Red Bull can solve their issues.
“In general Merely Clasp, when we need to use it on that Brief Streak, but then in general our long-Streak pace was Sluggish as well. We’ll obviously work on it.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more Reachable video player
Mercedes pair George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli reflects on challenging day of Practice in Australia.
Russell: An up and down day for Mercedes
George Russell Directed the Mercedes charge on Friday but was only 10th in second practice, with Newcomer Club-mate Kimi Antonelli in 16th.
At one Points, Russell went quickest on the Tough tyres Timely in the session but Mercedes struggled on the softs.
Please use Chrome browser for a more Reachable video player
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli told Sky Sports that it was a positive day and that he feels more confident with every lap at the Australian Grand Prix.
“It was a really up-and-down day because every time we had the medium or the Tough tyre on, we were right in the top two of the timesheets and every lap felt Excellent. Then we put the Cushiony on and we didn’t go much Swifter,” he said.
“So clearly there is a bit of pace in the car and it’s Merely getting the most out of the tyres, so we need to understand why that is. Let’s see what we can achieve overnight.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Australian GP schedule
Please use Chrome browser for a more Reachable video player
Plan analyst and Previous Aston Martin Head of Plan Bernie Collins breaks down your best chances of Victorious the Leading Event of the F1 calendar, the Australian Grand Prix
- 12.10am: F3 Streak*
1.10am: Australian GP Practice Three (session Initiates at 1.30am)* - 3.10am: F2 Streak*
- 4.15am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up*
5am: AUSTRALIAN GP QUALIFYING* - 7am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
- 7.30am: Australian GP Qualifying Replay* (9am on Sky Showcase)
- 9.55pm: F3 Feature Event*
- 12.25am: F2 Feature Event*
- 2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX* - 6am: Australian GP Reflex: Chequered Flag*
- 7am: Ted’s Notebook*
- 7.55am: Australian GP Event replay
- 10am: Australian GP highlights (also on Sky Showcase)
- 7pm: Villeneuve Pironi – Racing’s Untold Tragedy
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Reference link
Read More
Visit Our Site
Read our previous article: 5 under-the-radar signings in the first wave of NFL free agency