The first Grand Prix of the 2025 F1 season is fast approaching, once again making a stop in Australia—historically, a track well-suited to Ferrari. Could the Scuderia truly be a favorite in Melbourne?
We return to Australia, where everything begins and sometimes, everything seems predestined. Back to Melbourne, to Albert Park—a legendary circuit in Formula 1 and motorsport history, a stage for strategic races, occasionally a bit dull, but also for wild, unpredictable contests. After five consecutive seasons of opening the championship in Bahrain (initially due to COVID-related restrictions and strict local policies), F1 is now returning to its long-standing tradition.
Now, everything is set. In Melbourne, excitement is through the roof, and anticipation is sky-high because, after more than three long months, the roar of the engines will finally return. There is particular excitement surrounding the legendary debut of Lewis Hamilton in the SF-25, but also immense curiosity about Ferrari’s standing at the start of this new season. Expectations are higher than ever, fueled even further by team principal Fred Vasseur, who has repeatedly reaffirmed his belief in the winning project he has spearheaded. The verdict, however, will come from the track itself.
When the Dawn Turned Red: From Vettel’s Double to Leclerc and Sainz
The 2017 F1 season kicked off with a qualifying session dominated by Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton secured his sixth (out of eight) Australian pole positions, proving once again that this track—like Montréal, Budapest, and Silverstone—was his personal hunting ground. He outpaced Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel by nearly three-tenths, as the German embarked on his third season with the Scuderia, still chasing that elusive title-winning car.
But while it all seemed decided on Saturday, the race delivered a stunning twist: Ferrari and the SF-70H dominated, with Vettel taking victory thanks to a perfect “overcut” strategy that allowed him to leapfrog Hamilton, leaving the Briton and the entire Mercedes team frustrated. That triumph was the first of five for Vettel in 2017, although his championship hopes ultimately faded in the Asian triple-header (Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan), with Hamilton sealing the title in Mexico.
A year later, in 2018, the SF-71H arrived in Melbourne as a proven force. Unlike the previous season, however, Kimi Räikkönen secured a front-row start alongside pole-sitter Hamilton, while Vettel lined up third. It was a 2-vs-1 battle throughout the race, and once again, luck smiled on Ferrari. With Räikkönen keeping Hamilton in check, Vettel executed another strategic “overcut,” this time capitalizing on a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period. Pitting at the perfect moment, he emerged ahead of Hamilton and managed the race expertly to claim another Melbourne victory.
The 2019 season remains a mystery (who can forget Vettel’s famous team radio message: “Why are we so slow?”). After a two-year absence from the calendar, Melbourne returned in 2022 as the third race of the season. Once again, it was Ferrari that emerged victorious, with the F1-75 proving dominant. Leclerc’s win was one of the most emphatic and uncontested in recent years—a shining moment in what was a bittersweet season for the Scuderia.
And then came Carlos Sainz, the most recent winner of the Australian GP in 2024. Unlike past editions, this was also the third round of the season, following the two Middle Eastern races in Bahrain and Jeddah. Sainz, returning from an appendectomy that had sidelined him in Saudi Arabia, delivered a commanding performance, aided by the retirement of Max Verstappen due to brake failure. Leclerc’s second-place finish completed a sensational Ferrari 1-2—an extraordinary result that played a key role in securing second place in the Constructors’ standings.
The historical precedent certainly favors the Prancing Horse. At least on paper. However, while past results paint an encouraging picture, the true measure of Ferrari’s competitiveness will only be revealed on track. Will the tradition continue? Will Melbourne witness another red dawn in 2025? The answers will come soon enough.
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP, Ferrari.com
