Lando Norris Dominates Season Opener, First Podium for McEwan

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Q1	Q2	Diff.
1	9	Jehan Daruvala		1:22.412	1:22.017
2	47	Lando Norris		1:22.194	1:22.147	+0.130
3	56	Einar Ármannsson		1:22.834	1:22.697	+0.680
4	39	Sho Tsuboi		1:23.029	1:22.782	+0.765
5	1	Sebastian Vettel		1:22.995	1:23.165	+0.978
6	20	Kevin Magnussen		1:23.377	1:23.008	+0.991
7	7	Charles Leclerc		1:23.425	1:23.805	+1.408
8	63	George Russell		1:23.628	1:23.471	+1.454
9	99	Sacha Fenestraz		1:24.371	1:23.926	+1.909
10	37	Victoria Desai		1:24.071	1:23.936	+1.919
11	23	Jules Bianchi		1:24.413	1:24.672	+2.396
12	10	Alessio Lorandi		1:24.589	1:24.485	+2.468
13	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		1:24.999	1:24.580	+2.563
14	98	Colton Herta		1:24.970	1:24.753	+2.736
15	94	Pascal Wehrlein		1:26.751	1:24.796	+2.779
16	43	Franco Colapinto		1:24.830	1:25.013	+2.813
17	80	Raven Roth		1:25.277	1:24.954	+2.937
18	34	Felipe Drugovich		1:25.880	1:25.080	+3.063
19	31	Esteban Ocon		1:25.847	1:25.511	+3.494
20	46	Alessandro Cicognani		1:25.768	1:25.981	+3.751
21	81	Oscar Piastri		1:26.484	1:26.225	+4.208
22	33	Max Verstappen		1:27.388	1:26.535	+4.518
23	29	Roger Ibe		1:27.043	1:27.040	+5.023
24	2	Stoffel Vandoorne		1:27.913	1:27.340	+5.323
25	4	Robin Frijns		1:29.929	1:29.520	+7.485
26	95	Beitske Visser		1:29.841	1:29.741	+7.724

Report:

The most important date in January is the return of the Formula One championship. In the famous New Zealand International Grand Prix, the new cars get their first run at championship points in Taupō.

Caterham were expected to be on top again and duly provided. Lando Norris quickly took the lead and rolled away after the pitstops, taking a dominant fastest lap on his way to the fifteenth win of his young career.

The star of qualifying, however, was young Jehan Daruvala. The Indian achieved pole position in his first Grand Prix weekend. Regrettably, Daruvala made a fool of himself on Sunday, running into his teammate.

There were many new names on the grid, six rookies made their first start. Sacha Fenestraz was the only one to take points, however. New manufacturers Audi scored fourth place at the hand of former race winner Ármannsson.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Grid	Points
1	47	Lando Norris		70:42.680	2	10
2	63	George Russell		+29.107	8	8
3	1	Sebastian Vettel		+34.030	5	6
4	56	Einar Ármannsson		+54.179	3	5
5	39	Sho Tsuboi		+56.712	1	4
6	99	Sacha Fenestraz		1 Lap	9	3
7	23	Jules Bianchi		1 Lap	11	2
8	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		1 Lap	13	1
9	80	Raven Roth		1 Lap	17
10	94	Pascal Wehrlein		1 Lap	15
11	46	Alessandro Cicognani		1 Lap	20
12	37	Victoria Desai		1 Lap	10
13	34	Felipe Drugovich		1 Lap	18
14	10	Alessio Lorandi		1 Lap	12
15	21	Oscar Piastri		2 Laps	13
16	7	Charles Leclerc		2 Laps	7
17	20	Kevin Magnussen		2 Laps	6
18	33	Max Verstappen		2 Laps	22
19	29	Roger Ibe		3 Laps	23
20	4	Robin Frijns		4 Laps	25
21	2	Stoffel Vandoorne		4 Laps	24
22	95	Beitske Visser		4 Laps	26
DNF	98	Colton Herta		Motor	14
DNF	43	Franco Colapinto		Oil Leak	18
DNF	9	Jehan Daruvala		Motor	1	1
DNF	31	Esteban Ocon		Motor	19

Fastest Lap:

Lando Norris – 1:13.805

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

George Russell – makes a statement for McEwan with their first podium place.

Reject Of The Race:

Ferrari – poor qualifying, technical issues and the drivers were slow, but also not put in a position to succeed