Russell opens F1 season with commanding win in Melbourne

George Russell launched his 2026 Formula 1 campaign in style, mastering a turbulent Australian Grand Prix to claim victory ahead of Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli after an intense early duel with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The British pole‑sitter crossed the line nearly three seconds clear, with Lewis Hamilton securing fourth in a race that pushed the sport’s radically updated hybrid systems to their limits.

World champion Lando Norris salvaged fifth, while Max Verstappen delivered a remarkable charge from twentieth to sixth following a qualifying crash. Home favourite Oscar Piastri suffered heartbreak, crashing on his out‑lap and failing to start.

Frequent virtual safety car periods added to the tension, but Russell remained composed to earn his sixth career win and first since Singapore. The new battery‑heavy power units proved demanding across Albert Park’s long straights, contributing to five retirements as teams wrestled with the sport’s fresh technical era.