The 2026 Formula 1 season kicked off with an intense race at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Briton George Russell, from Mercedes, took victory after starting from pole position and leading much of the race, also guaranteeing a one-two finish for the German team with the young Italian Kimi Antonelliwho finished second.
Ferrari completed the top 4 with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who had a fierce duel with Russell in the first laps of the race at the Albert Park circuit.
Ferrari challenges Mercedes in the first laps
The race started with great intensity. Charles Leclerc, who started fourth, made an impressive exit and took the lead at the first corner. Russell managed to stay close and regained the position shortly after, starting an intense dispute with the Monegasque driver.
For several laps, Mercedes and Ferrari exchanged positions in the lead. Lewis Hamilton also approached the lead group after a good start, forming a trio competing for victory.
The situation changed when a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was deployed on lap 12 following the retirement of Isack Hadjarfrom Red Bull, apparently due to engine failure. Mercedes immediately took the opportunity to call Russell and Antonelli to the pits.
Ferrari opted to keep its drivers on the track at that time, a strategy that ended up costing positions when Leclerc and Hamilton made their stops later. With new tires and a free track, Russell regained the lead and controlled the race until the flag.
The Briton won with around three seconds of advantage over Antonelli, while Leclerc finished 15 seconds behind, in third.
Mercedes emerges as favorite at the start of the season
The victory confirmed Mercedes’ strong performance already demonstrated in qualifying. Russell had taken pole with a wide advantage over his rivals, indicating that the team’s car could be the most competitive at this early stage of the championship.
The new 2026 technical regulations brought important changes to the energy management of cars, and Mercedes appears to have found an efficient balance between engine power and electrical energy recovery.
Furthermore, the car demonstrated much more stable handling compared to previous seasons of the ground effect era.
Drama for Australian fans
The start of the race also had a dramatic moment for local fans. The Australian Oscar Piastrifrom McLaren and born in Melbourne, retired during the formation lap.
The driver lost control of the car when accelerating at the exit of turn four, touched the curb and ended up spinning into the wall, ending his participation even before the official start.
The incident caused great frustration in the stands at Albert Park.
Verstappen recovery and rookie debut
Another highlight was Red Bull’s Max Verstappen’s impressive recovery run. The Dutchman only started in 20th place and managed to finish in sixth place after a consistent race.
Among the newcomers, Briton Arvid Lindblad, from Racing Bulls, caught attention by finishing eighth, scoring points in his first race in Formula 1.
Audi and Cadillac debut in Formula 1
The 2026 season also marks the entry of new manufacturers into the category.
A Audiwhich took over the former Sauber team and develops its own engines, had a promising start with Gabriel Bortoleto finishing ninth, securing points in the new team’s first race.
I and Cadillacwho debuts in Formula 1 after assembling his structure in just over a year, managed to take a car to the end of the race. Sergio Pérez finished 16th, three laps behind the leader, a result considered positive for the team’s first step in the category.
Russell opens championship with authority
With the victory in Melbourne — the sixth of his career and the first in Australia — George Russell starts the 2026 championship as one of the main candidates for the title.
If Mercedes maintains the performance demonstrated in the Australian GP, the season promises an intense dispute between the German team and Ferrari in the next stages of the championship.
| Position | Driver/Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | George Russell (Mercedes) |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) |
| 5 | Lando Norris (McLaren) |
| 6 | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) |
| 7 | Oliver Bearman (Haas) |
| 8 | Arvid Lindblad (Red Bull) |
| 9 | Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly (Alpine) |
| 11 | Esteban Ocon (Haas) |
| 12 | Alexander Albon (Williams) |
| 13 | Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) |
| 14 | Franco Colapinto (Alpine) |
| 15 | Carlos Sainz (Williams) |
| 16 | Sergio Perez (Cadillac) |
| – | Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) |
| – | Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) |
| – | Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) |
| – | Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) |
| – | Oscar Piastri (McLaren) |
| – | Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) |
Photo: Instagram @georgerussell63. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
