German team’s 1-2 finish marks the start of Formula 1’s new era in Melbourne, while Gabriel Bortoleto secures Audi’s first-ever points in the category
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Formula 1’s new era began with Mercedes dominance. George Russell won the Australian Grand Prix this Sunday in Melbourne, the opening round of the 2026 season, after a race marked by distinct strategies, Virtual Safety Car periods, and several intense battles throughout the field. Kimi Antonelli completed the German team’s 1-2 finish in second place, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium.
The victory also puts Russell in the lead of the Drivers’ Championship for the first time in his career, as well as marking Mercedes’ return to the top of the category at the start of a new technical cycle.
The start already brought important changes to the race scenario. Charles Leclerc got off better from fourth position and took the lead in the opening meters, overtaking Russell in the battle for the first corner. Behind them, Lewis Hamilton gained positions and even entered the fight for the lead, while Antonelli lost performance on the exit and dropped to seventh position in the early laps.
In the opening laps, the race was marked by an intense battle for the lead. Russell momentarily regained first position by attacking Leclerc, but the Monegasque responded quickly and retook command shortly after. Meanwhile, Hamilton was closing in on the two and seemed ready to enter the direct fight.
Further back in the field, Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto was also involved in important battles. After starting tenth, the Audi driver momentarily lost positions at the start but managed to react quickly by overtaking Fernando Alonso and reclaiming a spot in the top 10.
Another protagonist of the first part of the race was Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver started from the back of the grid after a qualifying crash but began an aggressive recovery race, overtaking several opponents in the early laps and quickly closing in on the midfield.
The race had its first major strategic moment on lap 12, when Isack Hadjar retired with mechanical problems. Under the virtual safety car, several drivers took the opportunity to make their pit stops, including Russell, Antonelli, Norris, and several midfield drivers.
Ferrari, however, chose to stay on track with Leclerc and Hamilton, betting on a longer initial stint. The strategy kept both cars temporarily in front but also left them vulnerable to Mercedes’ pressure when their rivals returned from the pits.
On lap 28, the decisive move of the race happened. Russell, with fresher tires and stronger pace, attacked Hamilton under braking at turn 9 and dived down the inside to take the lead. Shortly after, Hamilton finally made his stop, while Leclerc was also called to the pits a few laps later.
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Even after the stops, Mercedes maintained strong control of the race. Russell built a consistent lead at the front, while Antonelli regained ground after a difficult start and retook second place, consolidating the German team’s 1-2 finish.
The race had further neutralization moments. Valtteri Bottas retired near the pit entry, triggering a Virtual Safety Car that shuffled strategies once again. Race control even closed the pit lane momentarily during the car’s removal, preventing some teams from stopping at that time.
Later, another VSC was deployed when a piece of Sergio Pérez’s car came loose and was scattered on the track.
Meanwhile, the battles in the midfield remained intense. Bortoleto starred in a sequence of important overtakes in the final part of the race. On lap 40, the Brazilian overtook Esteban Ocon and shortly after also passed Pierre Gasly, returning to ninth position.
In the following laps, the Audi driver still tried to close in on the battle between Oliver Bearman and Arvid Lindblad, who were fighting just ahead. The gap dropped to less than a second, but Bortoleto ultimately struggled to get any closer in the final laps.
Even so, the Brazilian secured a historic result for the new German team. Finishing in ninth place, Bortoleto scored Audi’s first two points in Formula 1 history, in its official debut as a factory team in the category.
At the front, Russell calmly managed the final laps. Mercedes maintained a consistent lead over Ferrari, while Antonelli consolidated second place. Charles Leclerc crossed the finish line in third position, securing Ferrari’s first podium in Formula 1’s new era.
With pole position, victory, and a 1-2 finish in the very first race of the year, Mercedes leaves Melbourne with a clear message for the rest of the grid: the German team may have started Formula 1’s new generation once again as the category’s technical benchmark.
Check the result of the 2026 F1 Australian GP:
1) George Russell (Mercedes)
2) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
3) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
5) Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes)
6) Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Red Bull Ford)
7) Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari)
8) Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford)
9) Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
10) Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Mercedes)
11) Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari)
12) Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes)
13) Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford)
14) Franco Colapinto (Alpine/Mercedes)
15) Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes)
16) Sergio Pérez (Cadillac/Ferrari)
OUT) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Honda)
OUT) Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac/Ferrari)
OUT) Isack Hadjar (Red Bull/Red Bull Ford)
OUT) Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes)
OUT) Nico Hülkenberg (Audi)
OUT) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Honda)
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