Four of Formula 1’s six rookie drivers crashed out in the treacherous conditions at Melbourne. Here’s how they explained their retirements.
Formula 1 articles archive
The Formula 1 world championship began in 1950 and is considered the world’s leading form of single-seater motorsport. The 2025 F1 season is the 75th time the world championship has been held.
The most successful F1 drivers in history are seven-times world champions Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher. In 2021 the former became the first and so far only driver to date to win 100 grands prix.
While Schumacher retired from F1 at the end of 2012, Hamilton continues to race. His rival world champions in the series are Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso.
There are 10 teams active in the championship, each of which field cars for two drivers. Each team is required to design and build the majority of its cars but may source some parts including engines, gearboxes and certain other components.
Ferrari has won the F1 constructors’ championship more times than any other team, with 16 titles. It is also the only team which has competed in every championship since the first season of Formula 1.
The Formula 1 calendar typically runs from March to November each year. Pre-season tests take place in February and March, and a post-season test is usually scheduled for late November or December.
A championship now includes over three times as many rounds as early seasons did. Seven rounds counted towards the first world championship – including the Indianapolis 500, despite it being run to different rules – but the 2025 F1 calendar has now grown to 24 races. The series visits Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Asia and Australasia. It has not raced in Africa since 1993.
Two organisations are responsible for running F1. The Federation Internazionale de l’Automobile (FIA), based in Paris, France, administers and governs the sport. Its commercial rights are leased to Formula 1 Management (FOM) which was purchased by the US-based company Liberty Media in 2017.
Index of F1 articles on RaceFans:
Torque spike or ‘black line’? Teams’ competing explanations for Sainz’s crash
Formula 1
Posted onWilliams is looking into whether Carlos Sainz Jnr’s car contributed to the crash which put him out of the Australian Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s record-breaking championship-leading streak is over
Formula 1
Posted onMax Verstappen broke Michael Schumacher’s record for the longest unbroken spell leading the drivers’ championship.
Sainz was behind “perfect” strategy call for Albon – who disagreed with it
Formula 1
Posted onAlexander Albon admitted he did not agree with the pit stop call made by his team mate which earned him a surprise fifth place in the Australian Grand Prix.
Antonelli regains fourth place after stewards cancel penalty
Formula 1
Posted onAndrea Kimi Antonelli has regained fourth place in the Australian Grand Prix after the stewards cancelled his five-second time penalty.
“Unlucky” crash caused by gravel on racing line – Alonso
Formula 1
Posted onFernando Alonso said he was “unlucky” to crash out of the Australian Grand Prix after hitting gravel which had been dragged onto the racing line.
Red Bull did not miss chance to win Australian Grand Prix, says Verstappen
Formula 1
Posted onMax Verstappen is certain Red Bull did not miss an opportunity to win the Australian Grand Prix, after finishing the race a close second.
‘No one told me it was raining elsewhere’ says Hamilton after strategy error
Formula 1
Posted onLewis Hamilton said Ferrari didn’t give him all the information he needed to avoid making a costly strategy error in his first race for the team.
2025 Australian Grand Prix in pictures
Formula 1
Posted onThe 2025 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in pictures.
Australian GP win shows McLaren “learned from our mistakes” last year – Norris
Formula 1
Posted onLando Norris said his Australian Grand Prix victory shows McLaren have learned from the mistakes they made last year.
Norris denies Verstappen to win intense Australian GP amid showers
Formula 1
Posted onLando Norris beat Max Verstappen by less than a second at the end of an intense season-opening race in Melbourne.
Vote for your 2025 Australian Grand Prix Driver of the Weekend
Formula 1
Posted onWho was the best driver during the 2025 Australian Grand Prix weekend? Compare how they did and vote for the best.
2025 Australian Grand Prix race result and championship points
Formula 1
Posted onLando Norris won the Australian Grand Prix for McLaren and leads the drivers championship by seven points from Max Verstappen.
Rate the race: 2025 Australian Grand Prix
Formula 1
Posted onWhat did you think of today’s race? Share your verdict on the 2025 Australian Grand Prix.
Norris and Piastri are ‘free to race but there are rules we cannot cross’
Formula 1
Posted onMcLaren team mates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri say they have been given clear instructions on how they may fight each other on-track.
The key strategy information for following the 2025 Australian Grand Prix
Formula 1
Posted onWhat will be the winning strategy at Melbourne? Is it going to rain? All the key information for the Australian Grand Prix is here.
Ferrari “too slow” and an unwelcome surprise for Haas: Melbourne lap time data
Formula 1
Posted onThe first qualifying session of 2025 showed McLaren is indeed the team to beat but Ferrari should have been closer to them.
‘Iced latte for Lando’: How Tsunoda pulled off ‘perfect’ lap for fifth
Formula 1
Posted onA superb lap by Yuki Tsunoda – plus a little help from Lando Norris – put the Racing Bulls driver fifth on the grid.
2025 Australian Grand Prix qualifying day in pictures
Formula 1
Posted onPictures from qualifying day for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.
Verstappen happy with third as Melbourne ‘has never been a good track for us’
Formula 1
Posted onMax Verstappen was pleased to qualify in third place despite taking provisional pole position with his first run in Q3.