Norris holds off Verstappen to win wet and wild F1 opener

Briton claims first blood in title chase with Australian Grand Prix victory

MELBOURNE — McLaren's Lando Norris swept to victory in a wet and wild Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, holding off defending champion Max Verstappen in a white-knuckle finish to a Formula One season-opener littered with crashes and safety cars.

Mercedes' George Russell was third on the slippery Albert Park circuit, where only 14 of the 20 cars finished in the treacherous conditions.

Norris, the preseason favorite for the drivers' title, started the Formula One season as he finished the last at Abu Dhabi, with victory from pole position.