F1 Australian GP 2026: Mercedes 1-2, Ferrari On Podium

Mercedes driver George Russell won the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix on March 8 at Albert Park in Melbourne. He took the chequered flag ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli for a Mercedes one-two finish. The race marked the start of the 2026 F1 season.

Russell started from pole position after setting the fastest qualifying time of 1:18.518. Antonelli qualified second with 1:18.811. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar took third place on the grid. The race saw multiple safety car periods. Charles Leclerc from Ferrari led early after passing Russell at the start. A Virtual Safety Car deployed when Red Bull's Isack Hadjar retired from the track.

Mercedes pitted both cars under the Virtual Safety Car. Ferrari drivers Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton stayed out longer. Another Virtual Safety Car followed after Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas retired. Russell and Antonelli returned to the lead after their stops. They used a one-stop strategy that worked in their favour. Leclerc finished third, with Hamilton in fourth place.the-race+1

Lando Norris of McLaren came fifth. Max Verstappen recovered from 20th on the grid to sixth, despite a qualifying crash. Haas driver Oliver Bearman placed seventh. Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad finished eighth. Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto took ninth. Pierre Gasly of Alpine rounded out the top ten.

Oscar Piastri of McLaren did not start after a crash on the sighting lap. Nico Hulkenberg also failed to start. Other retirements included Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin.

The full race results for the 2026 F1 Australian Grand Prix are as follows:

Russell earned 25 points for the win. Antonelli received 18 points for second. Leclerc got 15 points.

This result puts Mercedes in top place in the 2026 F1 constructors' standings after the Australian Grand Prix.