George Russell took pole position for the Australian GP, the first round of the 2026 Formula 1 season, in a qualifying session marked by accidents and red flags in Melbourne. The Mercedes driver led the session, followed by Kimi Antonelli in second, securing a team one-two, while Isack Hadjar put Red Bull in third position on the grid.
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Gabriel Bortoleto finished qualifying in tenth place with Audi. The Brazilian advanced to Q3, but a problem with his car shortly after Q2 prevented him from participating in the final phase, leaving him with no time recorded in the last part of the session. The pole reinforces Mercedes’ strong start in the category’s new technical era.
Read more F1: Check out the images of the 2026 Australian GP qualifying
Check out the full qualifying result for the 2026 Australian GP:
1) George Russell (Mercedes), 1’18.518
2) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), 1’18.811 (+0.293)
3) Isack Hadjar (Red Bull/Red Bull Ford), 1’19.303 (+0.785)
4) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 1’19.327 (+0.809)
5) Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes), 1’19.380 (+0.862)
6) Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes), 1’19.475 (+0.957)
7) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), 1’19.478 (+0.960)
8) Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford), 1’19.994 (+1.476)
9) Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford), 1’21.247 (+2.729)
10) Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), no time
11) Nico Hülkenberg (Audi), 1’20.303 (+1.785)
12) Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari), 1’20.311 (+1.793)
13) Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari), 1’20.491 (+1.973)
14) Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Mercedes), 1’20.501 (+1.983)
15) Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes), 1’20.941 (+2.423)
16) Franco Colapinto (Alpine/Mercedes), 1’21.270 (+2.752)
17) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Honda), 1’21.969 (+3.451)
18) Sergio Pérez (Cadillac/Ferrari), 1’22.605 (+4.087)
19) Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac/Ferrari), 1’23.244 (+4.726)
20) Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Red Bull Ford), no time
21) Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes), no time
22) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Honda), no time
Read more F1: Russell celebrates pole in Australia and aims for victory in the opener
