Formula 1 is finally back in action, with the 2025 season opener taking place at Albert Park in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix from March 14-16.
There is a lot to look forward to this weekend as all teams will finally reveal the true pace of their new challengers after keeping cards close to their chests during the pre-season testing in Bahrain.
It will also be interesting to see how the grid shakeups play out, with only two teams – McLaren and Aston Martin – sticking to their previous driver lineupsHeading into Melbourne, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is aiming for a strong start to the season after what was perhaps his toughest year yet in 2024, where he managed to clinch his fourth title despite a 10-race winless streak. This time around, he is looking to secure his fifth title which would not only equal the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio’s number of championships but also put him level with Michael Schumacher for the most consecutive titlesWe have also got McLaren’s Lando Norris who is ready to make a serious push for the championship after finishing second to the Dutchman last year by 63 points. He is heading to Albert Park with high hopes following the team’s promising performance in testing, while his teammate, Oscar Piastri, will also be looking to secure his third career victory and his first on home soil
And then there is one of the biggest storylines for this year: Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari. The seven-time champion will be determined to kick off his debut season with the Scuderia on a high note, and it will be interesting to see if realizing his childhood dream of wearing the legendary red will be the key to securing the long-awaited eighth world title.
The 2025 season will also see fresh talents – Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan, Oliver Bearman, Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Isack Hadjar – take to the track, and they are all ready to make their mark with their respective teams.
2025 Australian Grand Prix Start Times
The season opener kicks off with FP1 on Friday, March 14 at 12:30 p.m. local time, followed later that day by FP2 at 4 p.m
On Saturday, March 15, the day starts with the final practice run (FP3) at 12:30 p.m., leading into qualifying at 4 p.m.
Finally, the 58-lap race will get underway at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 16.
Australian Grand Prix: Free Practice 1
All FP1 start times are on Friday unless stated otherwise.
- Local Time (AEDT): 12:30 p.m.
- Australia (AWST): 9:30 a.m.
- Australia (ACDT): 12 p.m.
- United States and Canada (EDT): 9:30 p.m. on Thursday
- United States and Canada (CDT): 8:30 p.m. on Thursday
- United States and Canada (PDT): 6:30 p.m. on Thursday
- United States and Canada (MDT): 7:30 p.m. on Thursday
- United Kingdom (GMT): 1:30 a.m.
- Central European Time: 2:30 a.m.
- Saudi Arabia (GMT+3): 4:30 a.m.
- Brazil (GMT-3): 10:30 p.m. on Thursday
- Japan (JST): 10:30 a.m.
- India (IST): 7 a.m.
Australian Grand Prix: Free Practice 2
All FP2 start times are on Friday unless stated otherwise.
- Local Time (AEDT): 4 p.m.
- Australia (AWST): 1 p.m.
- Australia (ACDT): 3:30 p.m
- United States and Canada (EDT): 1 a.m.
- United States and Canada (CDT): 12 a.m.
- United States and Canada (PDT): 10 p.m. on Thursday
- United States and Canada (MDT): 11 p.m. on Thursday
- United Kingdom (GMT): 5 a.m.
- Central European Time: 6 a.m.
- Saudi Arabia (GMT+3): 8 a.m.
- Brazil (GMT-3): 2 a.m.
- Japan (JST): 2 p.m.
- India (IST): 10:30 a.m.
Australian Grand Prix: Free Practice 3
All FP3 start times are on Saturday unless stated otherwise.
- Local Time (AEDT): 12:30 p.m.
- Australia (AWST): 9:30 a.m.
- Australia (ACDT): 12 p.m.
- United States and Canada (EDT): 9:30 p.m. on Friday
- United States and Canada (CDT): 8:30 p.m. on Friday
- United States and Canada (PDT): 6:30 p.m. on Friday
- United States and Canada (MDT): 7:30 p.m. on Friday
- United Kingdom (GMT): 1:30 a.m.
- Central European Time: 2:30 a.m.
- Saudi Arabia (GMT+3): 4:30 a.m.
- Brazil (GMT-3): 10:30 p.m. on Friday
- Japan (JST): 10:30 a.m.
- India (IST): 7 a.m.
Australian Grand Prix: Qualifying
All qualifying start times are on Saturday unless stated otherwise.
- Local Time (AEDT): 4 p.m.
- Australia (AWST): 1 p.m.
- Australia (ACDT): 3:30 p.m.
- United States and Canada (EDT): 1 a.m.
- United States and Canada (CDT): 12 a.m.
- United States and Canada (PDT): 10 p.m. on Frida
- United Kingdom (GMT): 5 a.m.
- Central European Time: 6 a.m.
- Saudi Arabia (GMT+3): 8 a.m.
- Brazil (GMT-3): 2 a.m.
- Japan (JST): 2 p.m.
- India (IST): 10:30 a.m.
Australian Grand Prix: Race
All race start times are on Sunday unless stated otherwise.
- Local Time (AEDT): 3 p.m.
- Australia (AWST): 12 p.m.
- Australia (ACDT): 2:30 p.m.
- United States and Canada (EDT): 12 a.m.
- United States and Canada (MDT): 11 p.m. on Friday
- United States and Canada (CDT): 11 p.m. on Saturday
- United States and Canada (PDT): 9 p.m. on Saturday
- United States and Canada (MDT): 10 p.m. on Saturday
- United Kingdom (GMT): 4 a.m.
- Central European Time: 5 a.m.
- Saudi Arabia (GMT+3): 7 a.m.
- Brazil (GMT-3): 1 a.m.
- Japan (JST): 1 p.m.
- India (IST): 9:30 a.m.
