George Russell opened the 2026 Formula 1 season with a dominant victory in Melbourne, as the new regulations delivered a chaotic, overtake-packed race — though not without misery for home hero Oscar Piastri.
The 2026 Formula 1 season began in spectacular fashion at Albert Park, with the radical new regulations immediately delivering what the sport had promised: closer racing, more overtakes, and genuine unpredictability throughout the field. The 58-lap race produced an extraordinary 120 overtaking moves — a number that underlined just how much the aerodynamic philosophy had changed.
George Russell made the most of his pole position, leading from the front and managing a gripping early battle with the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. The two cars ran side by side through the opening stint as the new 2026 machinery proved far more raceable than its predecessor, with less dirty-air effect allowing drivers to follow closely and attack.
Kimi Antonelli, starting his first Formula 1 season, finished a composed second just 2.974 seconds behind his team-mate Russell. A Mercedes 1-2 on the opening weekend sent an immediate statement about the Silver Arrows' pace with the new 2026 regulations.
Charles Leclerc brought Ferrari home third, 15.519 seconds back, with Lewis Hamilton fourth just 0.6 seconds behind his team-mate. Ferrari's race was tinged with controversy — team principal Frédéric Vasseur stated after the race that he had "no regrets" over strategic decisions, but the manner in which the two cars finished attracted scrutiny from the paddock.
The day's biggest disappointment fell on Oscar Piastri. The Australian, racing at his home Grand Prix, crashed heavily on his formation lap to the grid and was unable to start. The incident deprived a partisan Melbourne crowd of their local hero before a single racing lap had been completed.
Max Verstappen's weekend also unravelled in qualifying, when a crash left him requiring an X-ray on his hands and compromised his grid position. Aston Martin struggled with significant Honda engine vibration issues throughout, pointing to the teething troubles several teams were experiencing with the new power unit regulations.
Russell's victory gave him 25 points and the early championship lead. Antonelli's second place (18 points) gave Mercedes a dominant 1-2 from the opening round. Leclerc (15 pts) and Hamilton (12 pts) kept Ferrari in contention, but the gap to Mercedes was immediately apparent. The Silver Arrows looked the class of the field from race one.
George Russell won the 2026 Australian Grand Prix driving for Mercedes. Race time: 1:23:06.801 over 58 laps.
1. George Russell (Mercedes) — 1:23:06.801; 2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +2.974s; 3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +15.519s.
George Russell (Mercedes) took pole position at Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne.
