Australian Grand Prix: F1 session times, predictions, stats - ESPN

Formula 1 has arrived in Melbourne for the opening race of the season at Albert Park.

Sunday's grand prix is the first time all 20 drivers from 10 teams will line up together on the grid for the 2025 season.

All eyes are on Lewis Hamilton, this weekend, as he takes on his first race for F1's most successful team, Ferrari. Other drivers to watch are the six rookies who are part of new driver pairings at eight teams, excluding Aston Martin and McLaren.

No Australian driver has won a home grand prix, or been on the podium. McLaren came out of preseason testing in February looking like the strongest team, so could Lando Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri end that statistic after 40 years?

Friday is expected to be warm and settled with temperatures around 24°C, rising to 31°C on Saturday, while there's a chance of rain on Sunday.

Lewis Hamilton has recreated the scene from 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', watch the clip. Hamilton also insisted the pressure on him to perform at Ferrari is coming from himself and not from elsewhere.

Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc said he has no issue with Hamilton being the focus of the media's attention, and no driver is bigger than the team.

Toto Wolff has said Max Verstappen is no longer on his radar, adding he's entering talks with George Russell over a contract renewall: «I don't flirt outside if I'm in a good relationship.» Meanwhile, Verstappen downplayed Red Bull's chances of winning in Melbourne, saying the car is not quick enough yet.

McLaren believe Norris and Piastri can co-exist without problems as the team goes into the new season as favourites, but Norris dismissed that McLaren are seen as favourites and said he's surprised people are making «conclusions before we've even started the