British driver George Russell (Mercedes) lived up to expectations and won the first Formula 1 Grand Prix of the season in Australia, deflating Ferrari's surprise factor, who had taken the lead at the beginning of the Albert Park circuit. Second place went to Italian Kimi Antonelli, with the Monegasque Charles Leclerc completing the podium.
On the other side of the track, Madrid's Carlos Sainz struggled greatly with his Williams, making as many as three pit stops to manage his car's reliability issues, ultimately finishing 15th. Meanwhile, the Asturian Fernando Alonso, after a brief threat of retirement on the 15th lap, returned to the track to conduct a 'mini-test' with his Aston Martin before finally withdrawing.
In fact, three laps later, following the retirements of Hülkenberg and Hadjar—not to mention Piastri's earlier exit—it seemed Alonso would be the next to go, as his car was no longer performing after 15 laps.
George Russell of Mercedes crosses the finish line to win the 2026 Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia. EFE/EPA/JAMES ROSS
The initial and interesting conclusions from the new Formula 1 season are as follows: overtakes have multiplied, especially in the opening laps; the scenario created by battery energy management and savings has become a true lottery in individual duels, and the survival mode has once again taken center stage in the great circus of four wheels.
The first surprise of the day came even during the warm-up laps when the local hero, Oscar Piastri, had to retire after his rear wheel hit one of the circuit's 'piano' curbs and he crashed into the barriers.
At the start, with all the stipulated changes for the current season, uncertainties arose. However, the Asturian driver returned to the track several minutes later—on lap 26—obsessed with understanding his unruly Aston Martin, thinking more about the next Grand Prix in China, even though he was ten laps behind the penultimate car in the race, his teammate Lance Stroll.
On lap 18, the incident with Valtteri Bottas occurred, making him the next to retire with his Cadillac and triggering the second Virtual Safety Car (VSC). Despite this, the Asturian driver allowed himself the luxury of showcasing his mastery by securing the 10th position on the start, momentarily raising hopes due to the fragility of his car.
Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto was one of the day's pleasant surprises, finishing ninth with his Audi, while Argentine Franco Colapinto (Alpine) crossed the line in 14th place and Mexican Sergio Pérez (Cadillac) finished 16th.
The day's main struggles were exemplified by the McLarens: Oscar Piastri retired before even taking the start, and Lando Norris suffered in fifth place under the constant pressure of Max Verstappen, another of the drivers affected in Australia who at least salvaged his pride, as his teammate, Frenchman Isack Hadjar, was also one of the drivers who had to retire on the ocean surface.
Behind them, Sainz headed for the pits for the third time, this time to change the front wing, giving a respite to Colapinto who seemed anchored in his position.
The frenetic intensity of the early race segments fizzled out in the final laps like a soufflé, leaving the outcome somewhat less exciting. Nevertheless, the Briton, who also needed to change tires, watched as his compatriot overtook him before making his pit stop. The Monegasque, meanwhile, rejoined the race in third place, just ahead of Lewis, while Norris barely survived in fifth place, keeping an eye on Verstappen's aggressive pace, which was gradually closing the gap.
At the midpoint of the race, a piece of carbon fiber from Sergio Pérez's Cadillac caused the third—and brief—Virtual Safety Car, at which point Lando Norris made his way to the pits.
On lap 35, Alonso's personal test with his car concluded, with Stroll joining him in the garage, who, however, conducted his own test shortly after, given the complex situation the Silverstone-based team finds itself in.
While battles multiplied in the mid-pack of the race, Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto held onto ninth place with his surprising Audi, while Argentine Franco Colapinto held off the attacks of Madrid's Carlos Sainz for 14th place, as Mexican Sergio Pérez closed the list of finishers in Albert Park.
With ten laps to go, the Mercedes team pulled away from the Ferraris, capitalizing on the battle at the front between Norris and Verstappen, where 'Mad Max' kept sharpening his lead over the Briton, literally sticking to his tail. Several drivers took advantage of this brief window to make pit stops.
