Surprise Podium For Russell, Stunning Debut For Antonelli In Chaotic Season Opener

George Russell and debutant Kimi Antonelli defied a rain-soaked Australian Grand Prix to kick off the 2025 Formula 1 season with a podium and a near-miss, finishing third and fourth respectively in a chaotic Melbourne opener. Mercedes’ savvy strategy and the drivers’ cool heads turned a soggy Sunday into silverware, despite McLaren’s untouchable pace, setting a bullish tone for the Chinese Grand Prix next weekend.

Saturday’s warmth gave way to a colder, wetter Sunday, with rain greeting the grid at Albert Park. From a standing start—all 20 cars shod in Intermediate tyres—Russell held fourth off the line, while Antonelli, starting 16th after floor damage scuppered his qualifying, began a methodical climb. The 18-year-old Italian, replacing Lewis Hamilton, faced a baptism of fire, but his composure belied his years.

Russell reflected on the challenge: “That was not an easy race for anyone, so I’m pleased to bring it home in P3, taking our first podium finish of the new season. Keeping it on the road was a challenge at times, particularly in the changeable conditions. There were moments when the rain became slightly heavier whilst running on worn Intermediates, and then near the end the downpour arrived when we were on slicks. The team did a great job operationally today and we definitely maximised the result. The pace of the car was enough for us to fight for the podium, but we know we’ve got to find more speed if we want to challenge McLaren in normal conditions.”

The opening laps saw steady running on Intermediates, with short bursts of drizzle keeping the track greasy. Russell shadowed the leaders—McLaren’s duo ahead—while Antonelli carved through the midfield, reaching the top 10 by Lap 20. His early moves showcased the raw speed that made him a junior standout, but the race’s real test was yet to come.

A mid-race Safety Car, triggered by a shunt in the pack, flipped the script. With the track drying, Mercedes pounced, pitting both drivers for Hard compound slicks—a gamble that preserved their positions. Russell held fourth, Antonelli ninth, and for a spell, it seemed they’d cruise home steady. But Melbourne’s weather had other ideas. A rain cell brewing over the sea unleashed a deluge with 10 laps left, the heaviest of the day, scrambling strategies once more.

Mercedes nailed the crossover, calling Russell and Antonelli in for fresh Intermediates on Lap 44. “The team judged the crossover well,” Team Principal Toto Wolff noted, and it paid off handsomely. Russell cycled up to third, Antonelli to fifth, the latter then pouncing on Williams’ Alex Albon in the closing laps to snatch fourth. A post-race twist—a five-second penalty for an unsafe release—briefly dropped Antonelli to fifth, but its rescission cemented his P4, marking him the second-youngest points scorer in F1 history and the youngest on debut.

Antonelli’s delight was palpable: “That was an incredibly eventful race! The conditions were super tricky out there. We had so many different conditions that we had to cope with today, but I think we did a good job as a team. I was happy with how we managed everything from start to finish and to come home P4, having started P16, is really positive. I definitely can’t complain about how my debut race in F1 has gone. It was also great to see George up on the podium for the team. Whilst we didn’t have the pace to challenge the McLarens, it’s always good to pick up silverware.”

Russell’s third marked his 16th career podium, a steady hand amid the chaos. “George drove a considered race and maximised the result possible,” said Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin. “We didn’t have the pace to challenge the McLarens at the front, so he focused on conserving his Intermediate tyres in the first half of the race. He handled the falling rain on the dry tyres well and brought the car home in the closing stages to secure our first podium of the season.” His focus on tyre management paid dividends when others faltered—several cars failed to finish, undone by the shifting grip.

Antonelli’s charge from 16th was the day’s standout tale. “Kimi did an amazing job for his first race,” Russell praised. “To come through from P16 to P4 at any time is impressive. To do it on his Grand Prix debut is therefore fantastic. He deserved that result after yesterday where he was unlucky to suffer floor damage in Qualifying.” The teenager’s maturity shone through, navigating slicks in rain with a veteran’s poise. “The whole weekend has been a good learning experience,” Antonelli added. “Being knocked out in Q1 after suffering floor damage yesterday was obviously disappointing. To bounce back today though, and experience so much in one race, is really good for my development as an F1 driver.”

Wolff lauded the pair’s synergy: “Both drivers did a great job today in very challenging conditions. George drove a superb and controlled race to finish on the podium, whilst Kimi showed a great deal of maturity, in addition to the speed we know he has, to fight through from P16 to P4. The team executed the race well and operationally performed strongly. We saw many other drivers fail to make it to the flag, and other teams unable to take advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves, so we can be pleased with our Sunday.” The McLarens, untouchable up front, underscored a gap Mercedes must close, but Wolff saw progress: “We have clearly taken a step forward over the winter though and we can be encouraged by that.”

Shovlin echoed the sentiment: “We can be pleased with the start we made to the new season today. The conditions were difficult out there for both the drivers and the team operationally. They handled everything the race could throw at them calmly and efficiently though. We had many different conditions out there, and several challenging decision points, but we made the right choices at the right time. That is what helped us achieve a strong result today.” The pit wall’s sharp calls—especially that Lap 44 switch—turned potential chaos into a double-points haul.

McLaren’s pace loomed large, their orange cars vanishing into the distance. “The McLarens were incredibly quick today,” Wolff admitted. “We know we have to find more performance to be able to challenge them in normal conditions.” Russell agreed: “The pace of the car was enough for us to fight for the podium, but we know we’ve got to find more speed if we want to challenge McLaren in normal conditions.” Yet the W16’s responsiveness offers hope. “Both drivers have been working well together, the car is responding to their inputs, and it’s a solid platform to build on,” Wolff added.

Shanghai beckons in seven days, a tighter, twistier test for the W16. “We now head to China where we continue to build our knowledge of the W16, and our relative performance compared to our competitors,” Shovlin said. “It is a very different type of circuit to Melbourne so will provide useful learnings. We will be looking for another strong weekend and to build on this positive first race of 2025.” Antonelli’s eagerness matched the team’s: “We’ve had a strong first weekend and I’m looking forward to building on that in China next week.”

For Russell, it’s a first trophy of 2025; for Antonelli, a debut to savor. “It’s a positive start to the season for the whole team and we’re excited to move on to Shanghai and see what we can do at next weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix,” Russell concluded. In a race where others slipped, Mercedes stood firm—proof that in F1’s wild weather, strategy and skill still reign.