Mercedes-Benz once again took a prime position at the 2025 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, delivering a thrilling experience for fans of the sport – both on and off the track.

The Mercedes-AMG Lounge and Grandstand – ideally positioned on Turn 10, one of the fastest corners on the Albert Park circuit – was once again the place to be across the four-day event, with VIPs, guests and friends of the brand enjoying the venue’s purpose-built viewing deck, superscreen and full hospitality offering.

Mercedes-AMG Lounge & Grandstand, the place to be

A gleaming red Mercedes-AMG SL 63 Roadster took centre stage at the carpeted entrance to the Mercedes-AMG Lounge, where the equally dazzling guest list was welcomed inside. 

In the adjacent viewing garden, an eye-catching selection of Mercedes-AMG vehicles sparkled in the sunlight, as guests had the opportunity to take a closer look at the range. 

Some of the beautifully presented vehicles included the iconic Mercedes-AMG G 63, the all new Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupé and Mercedes-AMG E 53 HYBRID 4MATIC+ Sedan, the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV Night Series, and the incredible Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E PERFORMANCE.

Behind the open gallery of cars was one of the highlights of the space: a custom-built G-Track designed to showcase Mercedes-AMG’s stunning electric reinvention of the iconic G-Class wagon – the all new Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology.

The G-Track featured a steep dirt ramp, a rocky section on the flat, and a concrete square slab. Chief driving instructor for Mercedes-Benz Peter Hackett demonstrated the vehicle’s powerful off-road capabilities across the installation, finishing with a show-stopping manoeuvre on the slab: the G-Turn.

An unforgettable F1 experience

In the lead up to the weekend, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, as well as Third Driver and former Australian Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas, entertained the crowd in interviews with Australian TV personality Daniel MacPherson. 

George discussed his close relationship with F1 legend and former team-mate Lewis Hamilton, as well as his expectations of the season ahead and his new-found love of the Spanish sport of padel. 

Kimi – a newcomer to the team and the third-youngest driver ever to debut in the sport – gave guests some fascinating insights into how he’d prepared for his first F1 race, the early influence of his father, and how it felt to be the first full-time Italian driver on the F1 grid since 2021. Later, Valtteri spoke of his deep affection for Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit and his ongoing love for Australia.

The next day, ahead of practice sessions, guests were treated to an entertaining Q&A with the team’s principal and CEO Toto Wolff, who then hopped into the G 580 and took on the G-Track course himself.

“It really is the best place to be during Grand Prix weekend,” one guest said on the day. 

Her colleague and friend agreed: “It’s just a good vibe in the lounge – plenty of interesting guests and a lot of beautiful cars to look at, and champagne!”  

A strong start to the season and a historic debut

The race day itself proved to be eventful – and adrenaline-inducing. The warm and humid weather Melbourne had been experiencing in the lead up to the race descended into rain, and fans watched with bated breath as George and Kimi competed in the slippery, challenging conditions. 

Starting from P4, George held position early, while Kimi – down in P16 after floor damage in qualifying – steadily made his way through the field.

Intermittent drizzle prompted them to switch to hard tyres, but as the rain got steadily heavier, the drivers switched back to intermediates on lap 44. This strategic move paid off, with George maintaining P4 and Kimi advancing into the top 10.

After multiple crashes and safety cars, George managed an admirable third place with a truly gritty drive – 8.481 seconds from the victor – while Kimi made the Grand Prix world sit up and take notice when he finished in a remarkable fourth place, just under two seconds adrift of his team-mate.

It was a stunning debut for the 18-year-old Italian driver, who navigated Melbourne’s variable weather to announce himself on the F1 stage. He even overcame a spin on the wet track and five-second penalty for an unsafe release from the pits (later overturned) to finish just off the podium. 

“Kimi did an amazing job for his first race. To come through from P16 to P4 at any time is impressive. To do it on his Grand Prix debut is therefore fantastic,” says George.

Kimi’s impressive performance at Albert Park made him the second-youngest points scorer in F1 history and the youngest to do so on debut. Meanwhile, George claimed his 16th career podium, securing the team’s first trophy of the season.

“The team did a great job and they guided me through the whole race. I’m happy how we managed it,” Kimi said afterwards.

Their team principal was equally as pleased. “George drove a superb and controlled race to finish on the podium, whilst Kimi showed a great deal of maturity, in addition to the speed we know he has, to fight through from P16 to P4,” says Toto. “The team executed the race well and operationally performed strongly.”

The high placings bode well for the 2025 F1 season as the team looks to recapture the World Drivers Championship title they held for seven years between 2014 and 2020.