Highlights of the first stage of the season in Australia.
The 2026 Formula 1 season has officially opened! The first stage of the most prestigious auto racing series took place in Australia, and Mercedes driver George Russell won.
According to the results of qualifying, Russell secured first place on the starting grid before the race. In contrast, his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli took second place, as a result of which the drivers of this team claimed a double podium.
What happened at the Australian Grand Prix?
- Two drivers were eliminated from the race before the start. McLaren's Oscar Piastre crashed on the pit lane, while Audi's Nico Gülkenberg was unable to start due to technical problems. The drivers qualified in 5th and 11th place respectively.
- The race itself started in favor of Ferrari and its driver Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque took the lead at the start, ahead of George Russell – it was between these drivers that the main fight for victory unfolded in the first part of the race. Antonelli, however, immediately fell to seventh position.
- Another retirement occurred on lap 11: Izak Ajar lost control at turn nine and was eliminated from the Grand Prix. Instead, the race was brought out under the Virtual Safety Car.
- During the virtual safety car, both Mercedes drivers (Russell and Antonelli) decided to pit. Instead, Leclerc, as well as his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton, remained on the track.
- On lap 26, Leclerc finally went into the pits. Lewis Hamilton temporarily continued to lead the race and hold off the Mercedes drivers, but he failed: on lap 28, Russell regained the lead, and later Antonelli overtook the Briton.
- In the end, the Mercedes drivers managed to finish first and second. This is the first double podium for the team since the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November 2024 – then Russell won and Hamilton took second place.
- The biggest comeback of the race was made by former world champion Max Verstappen. After crashing his car in qualifying and starting the race in 20th, the Dutchman immediately made up 14 positions and finished 6th.
Formula 1. Australian Grand Prix
- George Russell (“Mercedes”) 1:23:06.801 (25 points)
- Kimi Antonelli (“Mercedes”) +2.974 (18 points)
- Charles Leclerc (“Ferrari”) +15.519 (15 points)
- Lewis Hamilton (“Ferrari”) +16.144 (12 points)
- Lando Norris (“McLaren”) +51.741 (10 points)
- Max Verstappen (“Red Bull”) +54.617 (8 points)
- Oliver Berman (“Haas”) +1 lap (6 points)
- Arvid Lindblad (“Racing Bulls”) +1 lap (4 points)
- Gabriel Bortoleto (“Audi”) +1 lap (2 points)
- Pierre Gasly (“Alpine”) +1 lap (1 point)
The next Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place on March 15 in China.