Verstappen’s teammate last year, Sergio Pérez, has been replaced by Liam Lawson this season, with the New Zealand driver set to make his full-time F1 debut in 2025. In the drizzly conditions in Bahrain, Lawson said he was fighting “a few teething gremlins” with his car as he sought to adjust to life alongside Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton has completed his sensational switch from Mercedes to Ferrari ahead of the 2025 F1 season - and he is paid handsomely to suit up in red

McLaren's Norris beat defending champion Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, in a close finish with the Dutchman hot on the heels of the British driver looking to land his first F1 title. It puts Norris top of the leaderboard after one week, and is the first time in more than 1,000 days that Verstappen has not been at the top looking down.