Round 1 F1 team power rankings: Top four or top one? Opening round shows worrying signs for challengers

A changeable race makes for some interesting power rankings but the pace of some teams clearly lived up to expectations, while for others there are some questions as to where they really are.

Before we get to them, it’s the usual disclaimer time. If you’ve read these before, you know the drill. These are all subjective and based mainly on my (incredibly smart) opinion mixed with form and on-track results, meaning it is a generally subjective list that holds no real weight except for the large basis of fact I like to think I can generate.

So with all that in mind, let’s get to the rankings.

10. Haas

If there was one clear loser for the weekend in Melbourne, it was Haas. Putting the issues aside for Ollie Bearman, the car looked incredibly slow and was nowhere near the pace across the entire weekend. Esteban Ocon looked incredibly dejected after every session, and the team were left scratching their heads leaving Australia as to what has gone wrong. A lot to do for the American team in order to climb up the ranks.

9. Kick Sauber

Kick Sauber scored more points in Melbourne than they did in all of 2024. An incredible achievement. But of course a lot of that came down to the retirements on the track rather than the actual performance of the car. Still, Nico Hulkenberg showed his experience to keep it together and avoid the chaos, and the team also was a surprise addition to Q2 with Gabriel Bortoleto scraping into the session. Faster than Haas all weekend though, so they’ll be impressed with that.

8. Aston Martin

Feel a bit harsh putting them so low, especially given the points finish, but overall it wasn’t a great weekend for Aston Martin. Qualifying 12th and 13th when two top ten locks in a Mercedes and Red Bull were behind them wasn’t a good sign, and neither Lance Stroll or Fernando Alonso never really challenged the top ten all weekend, except for a few brief glimmers. For a team that only two years ago was challenging for podiums, it’s a big fall off, and they’ll be hoping that they’re able to bridge the gap this season ahead of bigger things to come next year.

7. Alpine

A solid weekend for Alpine and seems unfair that they didn’t get any points from it. Pierre Gasly was solidly in the top ten and Jack Doohan was unlucky not to join him in qualifying. Aside from his race crash, Doohan was easily one of the best two rookies across the entire weekend, surprising many who see him as only keeping that seat warm for Franco Colapinto. A much better starting point for them compared to 12 months ago.

6. Red Bull

Another harsh ranking for a team that nearly won the race, but it was a very mixed weekend for the team. In the hands of Max Verstappen, the car was very capable. In the hands of Liam Lawson, not so much. It also doesn’t help when several other teams had a far more together weekend, especially the team that is your direct junior. Still, a second place is a great result for them and they will for sure be rising up this list soon.

5. Ferrari

Where did the pace go? A team that looked likely to be challenging for the win in Albert Park looked nowhere near it, and even in the changeable conditions didn’t look even remotely close to the win, let alone a podium. Considering a year ago they went 1-2 at Albert Park, it’s a big drop off, and they will need to get it together if the Championship is in the sights in 2025.

4. Racing Bulls

The biggest surprise in Melbourne, Racing Bulls looked great across the entire weekend and were so unlucky not to leave Australia with a healthy dose of points. Yuki Tsunoda was on form from the first session, and his sensational fifth on the grid was perhaps the highlight of the entire weekend. Isack Hadjar was also solid across the weekend, and his heartbreaking spin on the formation lap was hard to witness from the rookie who had been the best of the new kids until that point. There’s some good signs for the team in 2025 if this form can continue.

3. Mercedes

A very similar weekend to Red Bull, the difference being their rookie second driver was able to make hay while the sun shined in the race to climb their way through the field to a solid result. George Russell had a bit of an invisible weekend but was always near or in the top five, and third in the race was a good return for him. Kimi Antonelli found his footing as the weekend progressed, and fourth him was a great result on debut. Right now look likely to be the main team to challenge McLaren.

2. Williams

Going out on a limb here to put Williams this high up, especially given their points haul wasn’t as much as some other teams. But for a team to go from where they were in 2024 to where they are now is a big leap, especially given they were nipping on the heels of the top four. Alex Albon kept his head after a great qualifying to finish fifth, while Carlos Sainz would’ve easily been up there too had he not found himself in the wall early on in the race. Some great signs for the Grove team moving forward.

1. McLaren

Dominated the entire weekend and were very unlucky not to get their first 1-2 at Albert Park since 1998. Still some questionable strategy decisions going on at the team, but it’s early days, with plenty more opportunities to fix them and get it right. If that happens, they’ll continue to be a formidable force across the year.

What do you think of this list? Which order would you currently rank the teams in? Let me know your thoughts below!