THE REAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM MELBOURNE

The Formula 1 season kicks off with a convincing victory for Lando Norris and McLaren, while in Italy (and beyond), there is a sense of disappointment over Ferrari’s performance. Interestingly, much of the focus has been on McLaren’s dominance rather than on Norris’ outstanding drive, as if acknowledging the English driver’s merits were somehow taboo.

Undoubtedly, the MCL39 has proven to be superior, but the Australian Grand Prix demanded impeccable race management from Norris. Leading the way on a constantly evolving track is an enormous challenge: with no margin for error, he had to adapt in real time, serving as a reference for those chasing him. Verstappen’s case illustrates this perfectly—after the mistake that distanced him from the McLarens, his pace dropped by about a second per lap, indicating that even he couldn’t match the rhythm set by Norris.

That takes nothing away from Max, who remained combative and pushed his Red Bull beyond its limits, especially when closely trailing Norris. However, this victory was not just the result of McLaren’s speed but also of Lando’s intelligence and composure in handling every phase of the race.

Also on the podium was George Russell, who delivered a solid, mistake-free performance. Mercedes didn’t shine overall but showed glimpses of competitiveness that could become intriguing as the season progresses.

A special mention goes to Kimi, who finished fourth on his Formula 1 debut. Despite an early mistake, he recovered with an extraordinary drive, setting an impressive race pace and executing high-quality overtakes, particularly the one on Albon. Without the spin, he could have fought for the podium, but perhaps it’s better this way—less pressure on him heading into the next races. The talent is there; now, he just needs experience.

Ferrari deserves a separate analysis, which I will cover in a future piece.

Finally, a thought on Fernando Alonso. After provoking journalists before the race, his crash and subsequent disappearance from the spotlight did not go unnoticed. In recent years, he has benefited from having an unchallenging teammate like Stroll and from a certain leniency in the media. However, incidents like this raise questions about his current level and his ability to compete with Formula 1’s new stars.

© Simone Marchetti Cavalieri