As the dust settles on the inaugural race of the F1 2025 season, attention is already shifting towards the captivating undercurrent of inter-team rivalries shaping up on the grid. Qualifying duels between teammates are setting the stage for an enthralling season, with their Saturday one-lap showdowns often indicative of Sunday’s race results. Let’s delve into the latest statistics and emerging narratives following the first qualifying session held in Australia.
At the heart of the paddock at McLaren, Lando Norris appears poised to continue his dominance from the previous season, having out-qualified his teammate Oscar Piastri in the first round. Norris led Piastri 21-3 in the last season’s qualifying battles, however, Piastri has made clear his intention to ramp up his one-lap pace. This promises to spark one of the most competitive intra-team rivalries as the season unfolds.
In the Ferrari garage, the first qualifying round saw Charles Leclerc narrowly outperform Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton, making his debut for the Scuderia, is still acclimating to his new team. However, the seven-time World Champion’s resilience is well-known. Expect a spirited response from him in the forthcoming rounds.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has set a high bar for his team, effortlessly outpacing his teammate Liam Lawson in their first showdown. Lawson, however, is determined to bridge the gap as the season progresses, despite facing possibly the stiffest challenge in his F1 career.
Mercedes’ George Russell has taken an early lead against the team’s rookie, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Despite Antonelli’s status as a rising talent, Russell’s experience and his speed during qualifying put him in the driver’s seat. But, as the season progresses, Antonelli is expected to close the distance.
In the Aston Martin camp, Fernando Alonso continues to stamp his authority in the qualifying sessions, taking the lead against Lance Stroll. Alonso’s one-lap prowess remains among the sharpest in the sport, and he’s determined to leverage the Aston Martin machine to its utmost potential.
At Alpine, Pierre Gasly outperformed rookie Jack Doohan in their first qualifying face-off. Gasly’s wealth of experience proved decisive, however, Doohan’s eagerness to learn and adapt could make for an interesting competition as the races continue.
Haas’ Esteban Ocon took the lead in the qualifying battle against Oliver Bearman, who has recently moved up from F2. Despite facing a steep learning curve, Bearman’s potential is undeniable, and Haas is optimistic about this new pairing.
Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda managed to keep his top spot in the qualifying rounds, defeating rookie Isack Hadjar. However, as Hadjar accumulates more F1 experience, his performance is expected to improve and challenge Tsunoda’s dominance.
In a surprising twist at Williams, Alex Albon managed to outpace Carlos Sainz during their first qualifying duel. Sainz, a newcomer to the team, is keen to fight back and establish himself in the subsequent races.
Lastly, at Sauber, rookie Gabriel Bortoleto managed to outqualify Nico Hulkenberg, renowned for his qualifying abilities. Hulkenberg, however, is expected to bounce back in the next rounds.
The F1 2025 season’s initial qualifying rounds have thrown up a fascinating mix of expected and surprising results, from Norris’ continued supremacy at McLaren to Bortoleto’s impressive debut at Sauber. With numerous races to come and Sprint qualifying yet to kick off, there’s ample time for these dynamics to evolve. As teams refine their strategies and drivers get familiar with their cars, the qualifying leaderboards could see significant shake-ups. But one thing is clear — in the F1 2025 season, no driver wants to be second best to their teammate.