Max Verstappen loses Formula 1 championship lead for the first time in a thousand days

A dramatic race of the new Formula 1 season took place in Australia. The weather on the track shifted from dry to rainy, significantly affecting the cars' handling. As a result, five drivers couldn't finish the race, and one didn't even start.

The race was won by pole position holder, Lando Norris. Max Verstappen crossed the finish line in second place.

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Since this was the first race of the new season, Norris immediately takes the lead in the 2025 Formula 1 standings. This means Max Verstappen will not be at the top, a position he held exclusively for 1,029 consecutive days: from Spain 2022 to Australia 2025.

The Dutchman remains the only driver in Formula 1 history to have held the championship lead for over a thousand days. The second-best record belongs to the legendary Michael Schumacher, who led for 896 days from 2000 to 2003.