Rain or Shine: Melbourne's 2025 Grand Prix

The 2025 Australian Grand Prix is just around the corner. The weather forecast is a bit of a wildcard. Rain is likely throughout the day, and the race starts at 3 PM local time. This could mean a rolling start or even a delay. The track conditions will be tricky to predict. The FIA has updated their regulations for wet conditions, so teams need to be ready for anything. Temperatures will be cooler than during qualifying, dropping from 33C to around 23C. The start of the race is always exciting. The run to turn one is a great chance for drivers to gain places. Last year, Max Verstappen kept his lead, but in 2023, he lost it to George Russell. Lando Norris, who qualified in pole position, had a tough time keeping his lead in the past. The sharp right-left combination at the start can lead to collisions, as seen in the late standing restart in 2023. Teams have different strategies for tyre compounds. Some drivers have more hard tyres, while others have more soft tyres. Last year, Carlos Sainz Jr. won with a two-stop strategy, using hard tyres after starting on mediums. This year, Pirelli thinks a one-stop strategy is possible, but the rain forecast might change that. Albert Park has four DRS zones but only two detection points. This means drivers can use DRS in two zones after getting close once. The circuit has limited run-off space, making Safety Car periods and suspensions common. Last year, the Virtual Safety Car was used twice. The changes to the gravel trap at turn six could affect how many interruptions we see. Drivers have been running into it during practice, dragging gravel onto the circuit. The grid for this year’s race is set, but changes can happen before the start. The weather and track conditions will play a big role in how the race unfolds. Teams and drivers will need to be flexible and ready for anything.