This is the first time a McLaren driver has held the driver's title lead since Lewis Hamilton did at the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix

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.

Key Takeaways Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen makes millions from F1. Verstappen has an estimated net worth of $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.Verstappen was the highest-paid F1 driver in 2024,

Max Verstappen dealt Red Bull a significant blow after finishing second in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, revealing a key area where McLaren is significantly stronger.

While Max Verstappen was the nearest rival to McLaren in Australian GP qualifying, data shows the papaya cars had more in hand on Saturday.

Max Verstappen had been leading the world championship since the inception of the current ground effect era in 2022.