Max Verstappen is prepared for the first round of the new Formula 1 season to be wet as forecasts for the Australian Grand Prix show a high chance of rain.
“The weather seems like it’s a bit all over the place every single day,” said the Red Bull driver in Melbourne. “We’re going to experience quite a bit of heat and then a bit of rain, probably.”Forecasts indicate changeable conditions throughout F1’s three days of on-track action at Albert Park.
Some cloud cover is expected during Friday’s two practice sessions, with ambient temperatures of up to 27C. Saturday will be significantly warmer, however, hitting a peak of 35C. As qualifying will begin at 4pm, conditions are likely to be cooling by then.
Although Sunday will remain warm, forecasts indicate a strong chance of showers and potentially also thunderstorms during the day. The total rainfall could be as much as 20mm.
Melbourne is hosting F1’s season opener for the first time since 2019, following the cancellation of the 2020 race due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Verstappen, who made his debut at this race 10 years ago, is pleased the opening race has returned to Australia.
“I’m happy that it’s the first race again,” he said. “I prefer arriving here and just having the first race. It’s also how I started in Formula 1, then for a couple of years it went to another grand prix.”
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“The track itself as well is very fast,” he added. “Of course a few years ago they changed the layout of the track and I think that makes it a bit more exciting also to race on.”
However the reigning world champion remains doubtful about his car’s pace following pre-season testing. “I think we all expected a little bit more from it,” he said.
“But in a way I’m just very happy to be here because then we can finally see where we’re at because otherwise you just keep on thinking about it and it makes no sense anyway. You have to start at some point and hopefully it’s not too bad.”
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Jere (@jerejj)
12th March 2025, 12:02
I’m surprised about the relatively big highest ambient temp difference on qualifying day versus the other two track action days, albeit looking at the ambients since late last month, quite a few days have had mid-30s figures & over, so if Saturday’s highest ambients remain this high, the cooling device requirement might or should come into effect for that day.
However, I’m happy that rain is forecasted only for race day, although hopefully, the highly possible rainfall would only be light.
Simon
12th March 2025, 22:08
Peak occy right here
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
12th March 2025, 12:10
It could certainly play into Max’s hands if it rains.
However, with so many Rookies circulating, it might also turn into carnage as the older hands try to get past them.
schooner (@schooner)
12th March 2025, 13:04
Hopefully at least qualifying will be dry so we get our first real look at the early pecking order.
Jere (@jerejj)
12th March 2025, 13:54
I agree & fortunately, that should indeed be the case based on the current forecast.
El Pollo Loco
12th March 2025, 18:37
Meh, I’d prefer to see talent give a chance to make a difference more than the cars’ pecking order. We’ll get loads of boring pecking order the season. Take wet whenever you can get it.
Doggy
12th March 2025, 19:20
The thing is we may not get a real pecking order based on dry qualy. Last year McLaren was by a margin so much better at race pace than a single lap. Opposed to what Ferrari usually do.
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
12th March 2025, 13:48
Max has been in F1 for a decade? Time flies.
Jere (@jerejj)
12th March 2025, 13:54
Yes, he’s about to start his 11th season of competing in F1 & the same for Carlos.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
12th March 2025, 13:58
Yes, I saw such a comment few months ago and it shocked me too, way to make one feel old!
As for the rain, hopefully it comes indeed, I don’t mind a dry quali as long as the race is wet AND they let them race.
SteveP
12th March 2025, 17:44
As did the carbon fibre at regular intervals in the first four years ;)
It was something Horner commented on back then.
El Pollo Loco
13th March 2025, 0:19
You just can’t help but express your admiration for Max at any opportunity can you.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
13th March 2025, 12:21
Always surprises me me how fragile Max fans are. After a decade of following F1 you’d think they’d have a thicker skin by now
Davethechicken
12th March 2025, 19:05
Yep nuts isn’t it?
Max is now number 2 in the all time list of drivers with most race starts for a single constructor, with more than MSC at Ferrari.
He is also number 3 in the all time list of most consecutive race starts.
grat
12th March 2025, 14:46
What about the other 19 drivers? Are they going to be completely blindsided by the rain?
Jere (@jerejj)
12th March 2025, 15:18
Certainly not, so I’m also baffled that only Max is mentioned, let alone even quoted in this article.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
12th March 2025, 16:01
Rain isn’t a possibility for 19 drivers, as shockingly they thought the start of the season would be in Bahrain so only Max is present at Albert Park right now.
Hill (@pzero)
13th March 2025, 7:37
It’s just an article about Max being ready. I haven’t read anything in the article about Max being the only one that can handle the rain. Don’t read too much into this.
Looking at Brasil ’24 there were plenty great rain drivers, not just Max. Pierre, Esteban, Charles all did a great job. So, I’m really looking forward to a rain start of the season. Could be epic to watch who stands out.
BMW P85 V10
12th March 2025, 14:55
I expect Piastri to give Norris a hard time if it rains on Sunday. In general, everybody but the McLaren guys will be hoping for rain.
tielemst
12th March 2025, 15:47
First red flag of the year, then.
Doggy
12th March 2025, 19:23
How the weather forecast is looking like, it may not only be red flag, but it could be another spa when they canceled the race. Hope this is not the case
El Pollo Loco
13th March 2025, 0:34
Likely a VSC, becoming an SC and holy smokes, folks, hold on to your seats,because we’ve gone red! Red flag!
“It’s absolutely sprinkling down, here”
“We’re handing it down to Ted Kravitz in pit lane who has told he can barely see the tops of some skyscrapers.”
“That’s right, Crofty! Melbourne’s really socked in. Less than half the horizon is sunny. They had no choice but to red flag this for the safety of the drivers and track workers.”
Doggy
13th March 2025, 13:24
Kravitz, Crofty, and Hill are the modern era of the three stooges…I still wonder how they got their jobs and keeping them for so long.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
12th March 2025, 16:10
There’s no place like Albert Park for a season opener. And Brazil as season end. That’d be a dream.
SteveP
12th March 2025, 17:56
Or nightmare if your name is Massa – pretty sure no one in that family enjoyed the 2008 season end.
Yeah, I know where you’re coming from, and it does make a much better end than the current sandpit stuff
anon
12th March 2025, 19:50
@fer-no65 of course, the traditional convention was to have Brazil as one of the earlier races of the season and Australia as the closing race of the season – we’ve still had more races with Brazil in the early season than as a closing race of the season – with the decision to switch Brazil to being near the end of the season criticised for breaking that traditional arrangement.