In Melbourne, Lando Norris not only secured his fifth Grand Prix victory but also leads the World Championship for the first time in his F1 career. Unsurprisingly, the British driver’s victory dominates foreign media coverage, particularly in his home country, the United Kingdom. In addition, the disappointing afternoon in Melbourne for local hero Oscar Piastri is highlighted, as well as the underwhelming performance of Ferrari.
“It was a crazy race in Melbourne,” begins the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. The Italian publication congratulates Lando Norris on his first victory of the year. “An excellent display of maturity from the Englishman, who managed the sudden return of rain in the final stages of the race, even when his teammate Piastri made a mistake.”
“Second place went to the usual Verstappen, author of a top-level race despite a Red Bull that is far below the MCL39 in terms of performance,” continues La Gazzetta. “The Dutchman handled the wet circuit perfectly and finished less than a second behind the winner.” The Italian outlet also takes a moment to discuss the debut race of compatriot Andrea Kimi Antonelli, ‘truly a fairytale day’, and the disappointing Grand Prix for ‘their’ Ferrari, ‘completely fell apart in the race.’
‘The Salad of Regret and Missed Opportunities’
The French L’Équipe also focuses primarily on Norris’s victory. “He never gave up,” the French outlet begins. “Lando Norris managed to avoid all pitfalls to win the opening race of the Formula 1 season 2025 in Melbourne on Sunday. The British driver had the best single-seater for this first meeting of the season, and he did not let his opportunity slip through his fingers.”
L’Équipe briefly mentions Verstappen’s impressive second place, while the French publication extensively discusses the disappointing race of Ferrari. “The salad of regret and missed opportunities will be found in the Ferrari pits. The two Scuderia drivers had a golden opportunity to secure a podium position after the race, but they stopped a lap too late and lost everything.”
‘Norris Kept His Nerves in Check Like a Champion’
In Norris’s home country, the United Kingdom, his victory naturally dominates the media. The Brits even dare to dream a little of a title for their compatriot. “There is still a terribly long way to go, but at the last moment on a treacherously wet circuit and chased by Max Verstappen, Norris kept his nerves in check like a champion,” writes The Guardian.
The British newspaper predicts that McLaren’s competition is in for a tough season. “The pace of McLaren suggests that even overtaking them this season could be a Herculean task for their rivals.”
‘The Australian Curse Continues’
Meanwhile, in the Australian media, the focus is primarily on the suffering of local hero Oscar Piastri. “The curse continues,” The Sydney Morning Herald refers to the ongoing absence of an Australian driver on the podium. “The Australian F1 drivers must have walked under a ladder, crossed paths with a black cat, or broken a mirror. How else can Piastri’s ninth place be explained?”
However, the Australian newspaper still holds out hope for more victories for the local hero, especially since Norris won the opening race brilliantly despite all the pitfalls. “That alone will alleviate some of the pain of a home podium, which was washed away in a chaotic afternoon in Melbourne.”
