The two cars from the German team, which had already dominated the classification on Saturday, repeated their performance in the race and finished well ahead of the two Ferraris, driven by Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
The pilot British George Russell won this Sunday (8) the Australian Grand Prix, the first of the 24 stages of the 2026 Formula 1 seasonahead of his teammate, the Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who completed the Mercedes one-two.
The two cars from the German team, which had already dominated the classification on Saturday, repeated their performance in the race and finished well ahead of the two Ferraris, driven by Monegasque Charles Leclerc (3rd) and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (4th).
“It was a hell of a fight at the beginning! I had a bad start and had some very intense fights with Charles at the beginning. I’m very happy to have crossed the finish line”, celebrated Russell after the race.
O Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, from Audi, finished the race in ninth positionwithin the scoring zone.
Champion last year, the British Lando Norris (McLaren) started the season with fifth place, ahead of the Dutchman Max Vesrtappen (Red Bull), who made a brilliant recovery race, after starting from last position due to an accident in the qualifying session.
Completing the Top 10 were Britons Oliver Bearman (Haas) and rookie Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), who made an excellent start, and Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine).
Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) spun and crashed on his way to the grid and was unable to start, much to the disappointment of his thousands of fans gathered at the Albert Park circuit.
Piastri, who is still looking for his first victory in his hometown, should have started fifth, but lost control of the car after passing through a curb.
Mercedes was the team that best adapted to the new Formula 1 regulationswhich imposed major changes in the category, mainly in the engines, now 50% combustion and 50% electric.
Although many drivers criticized the new cars and expressed doubts about the possibility of overtaking, the first test proved spectacular, with numerous position changes, especially in the clash between Russell and Leclerc during the first laps.
The second stage of the Formula 1 World Championship will be the Chinese Grand Prix, next weekend, at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix result:
1. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes ) 1:23:06.801
2. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA/Mercedes) +2,900
3. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) +15,500
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Ferrari) +16.100
5. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren) +51.700
6. Max Verstappen (HOL/Red Bull) +54.600
7. Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas) +1 lap
8. Arvid Lindblad (GBR/Racing Bulls) +1 volta
9. Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA/Audi) +1 lap
10. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine) +1 volta
11. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Haas) +1 volta
12. Alexander Albon (TAI/Williams) +1 volta
13. Liam Lawson (NZL/Racing Bulls) +1 volt
14. Franco Colapinto (ARG/Alpine) +2 laps
15. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Williams) +2 laps
16. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Cadillac) +3 laps
17. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin) +15 voltas
Fastest lap of the race: Max Verstappen (HOL/Red Bull) 1:22.091 on the 43rd lap (average speed: 146.340 km/h)
Abandons
Isack Hadjar (FRA/Red Bull): mechanical problem on lap 11
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Cadillac): mechanical problem on the 16th lap
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin): mechanical problem on the 22nd lap
Nico Hülkenberg (ALE/Audi): Did not participate
Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren): Did not participate
Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Classification
Drivers’ Championship:
1. George Russell (GBR) 25 points
2. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA) 18
3. Charles Leclerc (MON) 15
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 12
5. Lando Norris (GBR) 10
6. Max Verstappen (NED) 8
7. Oliver Bearman (GBR) 6
8. Arvid Lindblad (GBR) 4
9. Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA) 2
10. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 1
11. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 0
12. Alexander Albon (THA) 0
13. Liam Lawson (NZL) 0
14. Franco Colapinto (ARG) 0
15. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 0
16. Sergio Pérez (MEX) 0
Constructors’ Championship:
1. Mercedes 43 points
2. Ferrari 27
3. McLaren 10
4. Red Bull 8
5. Haas 6
6. Racing Bulls 4
7. Audi 2
8. Alpine 1
9. Williams 0
10. Cadillac 0
11. Aston Martin 0
*AFP
