Formula One has returned for 2025 and it did not disappoint as Lando Norris held off Max Verstappen in the final laps to take the first win of the season.
Norris was in the lead for the majority of the race, with Verstappen uncharasterically making a couple of mistakes and dropping back.
Two safety cars in the second half of the race, after crashes from Fernando Alonso, Gabriel Bortoleto and Liam Lawson, gave Verstappen a way back in despite McLaren's superior pace.
However, Norris successfully kept the Dutchman behind to ensure that McLaren would start their season strongly.
Norris' teammate, Oscar Piastri, had less luck as he was one of a number of drivers to crash off the circuit, despite the Australian gaining on his teammate from second place.
It was a rough day for the six rookies on the grid as only Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Bearman survived the entire race.
Isack Hadjar slid off the track and did not start the race as he slid off at turn two on the formation lap.
Jack Doohan, Gabriel Bortoleto and Liam Lawson all slammed into the walls as the rain caused a multitude of problems for the drivers.
Take a look at our driver ratings from an exhilirating season opener below.
Driver Ratings
1. Lando Norris - 10
There was nothing more that the Englishman could do. He performed in a mature manner and superbly shrugged off any challenges that were thrown at him.
He led from start to finish in wet and tricky conditions. Norris struggled with race starts and restarts last year but now, he appears to be a man reborn.
It is not easy to task to perfectly time a restart with Verstappen glaring down your wing mirrors but Norris showed no sign of weakness.
Norris for World Drivers' Champion?
2. Max Verstappen - 8
Verstappen and Red Bull would have loved to have ruined the party for McLaren after running behind them all weekend.
Verstappen came very close to the race win after a late safety car gave him a great opportunity.
The four time world champion drove in his usual, aggressive style and was not challenged by the likes of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli from behind.
3. George Russell - 9
Brilliant performance from Russell as he followed up on a impressive qualifying showing.
He stayed out of trouble for all of the race and navigated the changeable conditions extremely well.
When Piastri went off track on lap 44 and Russell was there to swoop in.
Toto Wolff will be pleased to see Russell starting the season off with a podium. Hopefully, this will increase his confidence and maintain consistency this season.
4. Kimi Antonelli - 9
The rookie wrapped up a successful day for Mercedes as he came back from 16th place.
An issue in qualifying ensured he would be knocked out in Q1 but he showed his pace and grit to fight back. A couple of neat overtakes showed his racecraft but was bumped to fifth for an unsafe release before being reinstated to fourth post-race.
To come back to fourth is a great performance for Antonelli in his first ever F1 race.
5. Alex Albon - 10
Simply unbelievable. Williams have managed to grow and develop exponentially.
The British team have been plagued by heavy crashes and financial losses as of late but the work put in by the team over the last twelve months has paid off.
Albon is finally able to show his true pace and one that he is capable of. Watch this space.
6. Lance Stroll - 7
An unexpected result for Aston Martin from the race.
Stroll was simply able to keep the car on track and benefited from retirements and another unusual choice of strategy from Ferrari.
Decent work from the Canadian.
7. Nico Hulkenberg - 7
Much like Stroll, a beneficiary of retirements and Ferrari strategy.
However, to finish in a Sauber in seventh is credit to Hulkenberg's experience and skill as a driver.
The Sauber is one of the slowest cars on the grid but this is an important result for the team, straight off the bat.
8. Charles Leclerc - 5
Not a good day for Leclerc. A spin and a couple of mistakes made his race difficult, paired with Ferrari's strange strategy decisions.
With more rain coming down late on, Ferrari opted not to pit both their cars and chose to stay out, in opposite to the rest of the teams around them.
This cost them brutally as Leclerc fell down the order. A late rally with overtakes on teammate Lewis Hamilton and Pierre Gasly helped Leclerc salvage his way to eighth.
9. Oscar Piastri - 7
Unlucky showing from Piastri in his home race. He span off track whilst closing in on teammate Norris.
He did well to get back in the points to try and rescue his race but it was an unfortunate day for the Australian.
10. Lewis Hamilton - 5
It was Hamilton's first race in his new team and it did not go to plan.
Arguably, F1's greatest driver in the wet, he was unable to fully get going.
It is clear that he is still learning the car and adjusting to life at Maranello. We might have to wait a little while longer to see Hamilton on the podium in the red of Ferrari.
11. Pierre Gasly - 5
Tricky day for the Frenchman. He was in the running for a top ten finish but a mistake in the final few laps cost him points.
Alpine have showed some pace over the weekend but could not unlock it on race day.
12. Yuki Tsunoda - 6
Much like Ferrari, Racing Bulls chose to keep Tsunoda out in the hope that the late rainfall would quickly subside.
It was a baffling strategy decision and one that should not reflect on Tsunoda.
He was running well in fifth place for most of the race, extracting a lot of pace out of the car. Expect him to come back flying in Shanghai.
13. Esteban Ocon - 4
Haas will be in for a long season if they continue like this.
It is now clear that they have the slowest car on the grid. Not helped by the weather conditions, Ocon simply did not have the pace to compete.
14. Ollie Bearman - 4
It is going to be a steep learning curve for the Brit as an incident-ravaged weekend has finally come to a close.
Crashes in practice and qualifying, with a few mistakes in the race, will help him learn what to do and what not to do.
Did do well to be one of two rookies to finish the race however.
DNF: Liam Lawson - 4
Driving the second Red Bull car is arguably the toughest job on the grid and Lawson will improve in time.
He was unable to comeback after a poor qualifying session the day prior and struggled at the back.
His race ended with a spin and he ended up in the barriers, unable to continue.
DNF: Gabriel Bortoleto - 5
The Brazilian crashed at the same time as Lawson on lap 47.
Otherwise, he was putting in a decent drive, keeping up with his teammate.
DNF: Fernando Alonso - 5
Turn 7 was Alonso's downfall as he went off line and into the barriers on lap 34.
He was running fairly well for Aston Martin in the midfield and had a chance to score points but an uncharacteristic error cost the Spaniard.
DNF: Carlos Sainz - N/A
Not what Sainz or James Vowles would have wanted in his debut race for Williams.
He crashed out at turn 13 on the first lap to prematurely end his start to the 2025 season.
Sainz is a proven race winner and will be raring to get back in the car to show off the pace of the Williams, just like Albon did.
DNF: Jack Doohan - N/A
Bad start to his Formula 1 career. An incident on the first lap ended his race early. Nothing else to say.
DNF: Isack Hadjar - N/A
You cannot help but feel sorry for Hadjar. First ever race in F1 and ends up in the barriers on the formation lap.
After a brilliant qualifying session, achieving P11, the Frenchman pushed the throttle too hard and lost control.
It was a touching moment to see him being comforted by Anthony Hamilton after appearing distraught.
