Melbourne Grand Prix: F1 stars Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Jack Doohan ready to race

At the dawn of the new Formula One campaign we take a look at the 10 must-watch drivers set to hit the streets of Albert Park for the 88th Australian Grand Prix.

1. Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes, where he won seven world titles, for Ferrari is one of the most significant shake-ups Formula One has ever seen, and now it’s time for the superstar to bring the “Prancing Horse” back to the top of the podium.

The Tifosi will have incredibly high hopes as Hamilton partners young star Charles LeClerc, but the team must show they can overcome the strategy drama that has plagued their last two seasons. Hamilton’s wisdom and experience will be at the core of correcting the issue, and setting the tone in Melbourne will be pivotal for the 40-year-old.

2. Lando Norris

Nothing gets an Englishman more excited than a homegrown racing star, except maybe an Ashes triumph, and the hopes of a nation will be resting on Lando Norris yet again.

The McLaren gun sits in the fastest car to start the season, with the Papaya showing the raw speed that saw them win last season’s Constructor’s championship, which has only improved during testing in Bahrain.

So, the expectations and pressure on Norris have never been higher, with many at McLaren, and most certainly the fans, likely to see anything less than a maiden crown as a wasted opportunity.

3. Max Verstappen

The reigning champion looks set for a very different season to the last four.

Red Bull has far and away had the best car during the Dutchman’s four-year reign of F1 titles, but even ahead of the first weekend, Max Verstappen has conceded he can’t compete with McLaren until his engineers improve the car.

It will be a big mental test for the petulant champion, who has already suggested he could retire from the sport early. Can he stay the course and bank as many points as possible before a backend charge, or will his reckless frustration take him out of the fight before he can even fire a shot?

Oh, and he and Norris are odds-on for some sort of blow-up early in the season after several altercations on and off the track last season.

4. Oscar Piastri

The young man from Melbourne has earned praise from the moment his bum touched the driver’s seat at McLaren. But with the expectations on McLaren so high, he will need to lift again.

His biggest rival will be his teammate Norris, with the pair having had multiple clashes last season as they streaked ahead of the pack. Becoming the first Australian to win his home race since 1980 would be a good way to lay down a marker.

The 23-year-old will be buoyed having signed a a multi-year extension to his contract with McLaren today.

5. George Russell

After an apprenticeship under Hamilton, George Russell is the new alpha dog at Mercedes.

Russell will be the Silver Arrow’s breadwinner with a rookie beside him and with that comes the advantages of probable upgrade and strategy preferences, but it also means should he fail to perform, his place on the grid will be called into question.

Russell is a proven race winner and will be keen to add to his accolades in Melbourne.

6. Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Andrea Kimi Antonelli could not have found bigger boots to fill if he tried replacing Hamilton at Mercedes.

However, the 18-year-old will not lack belief, as Mercedes has rated him so highly that they’ve accelerated the Italian’s journey to Formula One at every stage. Antonelli didn’t make the best of first impressions in the F1 seat with a heavy crash on his practice debut at Monza, but he showed vast improvement in a practice session in Mexico and will be raring to go for his first race.

7. Jack Doohan

The newest Aussie on the grid comes into his maiden Australian Grand Prix with one race already under the belt.

The youngster is unlikely to feature at the top of the grid, but seeing Mick Doohan’s son pilot one of the planet’s fastest racing machines around Albert Park is a must for any Australian motorsport fan.

Unfortunately, if rumours are to be believed, Doohan will need to impress the Alpine brass to keep his seat beyond the opening month.

8. Charles LeClerc

Charles LeClerc has been the No.1 at Ferrari across the last few seasons but will have to fight to re-establish that claim after the arrival of Lewis Hamilton.

The man from Monaco has shown he is a race winner but has not been able to find the consistency to make a major push for the championship.

The constant demand Hamilton has on his team could be just the thing LeClerc can turn to his advantage in 2025.

9. Liam Lawson

The flying Kiwi who replaced Daniel Ricciardo at RB last season has been given the dream drive for this season: partnering Verstappen at Red Bull.

Liam Lawson was given the late call to replace under-fire Mexican Sergio Perez and will be under constant pressure to push Verstappen and earn points.

He may get a more lenient approach at the start of the season, given the car’s slight lack of pace, but New Zealander will need to adjust quickly, as he’s done before.

10. Gabriel Bortoleto

After earning a seat at battlers Kick Sauber, the reigning F2 champion has a nation behind him.

Gabriel Bortoleto is the first Brazilian to compete in the sport full-time since Felipe Massa in 2017, when he partners Nico Hulkenberg, who moved across from American-owned Haas.

Under the tutelage of Fernando Alonso, Bortoleto claimed back-to-back F3 and F2 titles in 2023 and 2024 before getting the paddock talking with a remarkable rise from last to first during the Monza Feature Race.

The Brazilian has shown a knack for adapting quickly and will need to as he steps up a level in Melbourne.