Rain and damp conditions at the 2025 Australian F1 Grand Prix had the shuffling effect of a pack of cards. All predictions were thrown out the door as drivers tumbled up and down the order throughout the 57-laps of Albert Park in Melbourne. In the end, Lando Norris had a blinder taking the win from Max Verstappen who showed why he is the world champion. (Could this be a season long duel for the title?). While these two positions may have been expected, what happened behind them certainly was not.
Expectations can be a torrid thing. Have none and you won’t be disappointed although this is all very well when it comes to sport! We know what our expectations for Liam Lawson are, now he is teammate to Max Verstappen at Oracle Red Bull Racing. Now is the time for us to keep the faith and maybe bring some realism into the equation as we look onto the proceedings as mere spectators and not privy to actually what is happening within Lawson’s inner circle.
In saying that, Lawson’s weekend was horrible – 16th in FP1, 17th in FP2, no time in FP3 and 18th in qualifying followed by crashing out of the Grand Prix with around 10 laps remaining. In my book, that would be a fail. Excuses can be made for a poor practice session, even having no luck in qualifying. Of all the 12 Grand Prix that Lawson has raced, this is the worst result.
Lawson will know this, so will his team. Now it will be about what happens from here as we collectively hold our breath, knowing how brutal the sport is on those that do not perform.
Spare a thought for the other rookies who also did not perform. Hadjar didn’t make the start, Doohan crashed out on the opening lap, Bortoleto followed suit later on.
They are all trained for these situations, to pick themselves up and go again. Let’s keep the faith in Liam as he now heads to the Chinese Grand Prix this time next week.
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