MARCH 8, 2026

Race Notes - Russell takes Mercedes one-two in Melbourne

George Russell won the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne in his Mercedes GP, winning by 2.974 seconds over his team mate Kimi Antonelli in second place.

Charles Leclerc, in the Ferrari, after taking the lead in the start, finished third, 15.519 seconds behind the winner.

Lewis Hamilton (16.144s), in the second Ferrari was fourth, followed by Lando Norris (51.741s) in the McLaren-Mercedes was fifth, Max Verstappen (54.617s) in the Red Bull-Ford was sixth, Oliver Bearman (1 lap) in the Haas-Ferrari was seventh, Arvid Lindblad in the Racing Bulls-Ford was eighth, Gabriel Bortoleto in the Audi was ninth, and Pierre Gasly in the Alpine-Mercedes took the final point in tenth.

Before the start, the cars took to the track to get to the grid. Home favorite Oscar Piastri hit a kerb and spun and crashed - putting him out of the race.

Russell starts on pole with his Mercedes team mate Antonelli alongside on the front row, Red Bull’s Hadjar and Ferrari’s Leclerc on row 2, Piastri not starting and Norris on the outside of row 3, Hamilton and and Lawson on row 4, and Linblad and Bortoleto rounding out the top ten.

A new season and a new set of rules, much to be found out anew in the next two hours.

Hulkenberg will start from the pitlane. Most drivers starting on mediums.

At the appropriate time, the drivers come round on the formation lap and line up on the grid. The lights go off and the race begins, Leclerc takes the lead ahead of Russell, Hamilton in third, Linblad, Norris, Antonelli, Ocon, Gasly, Alonso, Boroleto, Albon in 12th.

On lap 2 Russell passes Leclerc for the lead.

On lap 3 Leclerc overtakes Russell, Hamilton close behind, followed bt Hadjar, Antonelli, Lindblad, Norris, Ocon, Gasly, and Bortoleto in tenth.

On lap 6 Russell is challenging Leclerc for the lead.

Verstappen is up to 11th.

On lap 8 Russell passes Leclerc for the lead once again.

At the start of lap 9 Russell locks up and Leclerc is in the lead.

On lap 10 Leclerc leads Russell by 0.719, Hamilton (1.7s), Antonelli (2.9s), Hadjar (9.3s), Lindblad (12.5s), Norris (12.6s), Ocon (16.0s), Verstappen (17.7).

On lap 11Hadjar engine fails and he pulls off the track. The Virtual Safety Car is out. Many pit. Russell and Antonelli pit for hard tyres.

Leclerc and Hamilton lead, neither pitting, followed by Russell, Linblad, Antonelli, Verstappen, Bearman, Bearman, Bortoleto, Norris and Ocon in tenth.

On lap 14 the race resumes.

Alonso pits and retires. Norris passes Ocon for ninth.

On lap 16 Antonelli passes Linblad for fourth.

Both Ferrari’s are 10 seconds ahead of Russell - Ferrari confirms both cars are on “Plan A”.

On lap 18 Bottas is out on the side of the track. The Virtual Safety Car is out. Many cars pit.

The two Ferrari’s yet to pit.The pits are closed to remove Bottas Cadillac.

On lap 20 Leclerc leads Hamilton by 1.4s, followed by Russell (7.3s), Antonelli (13.9s), Norris (27.6s), Verstappen (32.6s), Linblad (35.3s), Bearman (36.4s), Bortoleto (41.9s), and Gasly (43.9s) in tenth.

On lap 25 Gasly and Ocon touch but continue.

On lap 26 Leclerc pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins fourth.

Hamilton leads Russell by 1.0 second.

On lap 20 Russell passes Hamilton for the lead in turn 9, and Hamilton pits for hard tyres and rejoins fourth.

At lap 30 Russell leads Antonelli by 6.7 seconds, followed by Leclerc (14.7s), Hamilton (21.5s), Norris (25.8s), Verstappen (28.5s), Lindblad (40.1s), Bearman (41.7s), Bortoleto (46.7s), and Gasly (52.8s) in tenth.

On lap 34 the Virtual Safety car is out for debris on the track. Quickly the race resumes.

On lap 35 Norris pits for a second time on medium tyres and rejoins eighth.

At lap 40 Russell leads Antonelli by 6.7 seconds, followed by Leclerc (16.7s), Hamilton (22.2s), Verstappen (35.9s), Norris (53.4s), Bearman (1m0.2s), Linblad (1m01.4s) Borotelo (1m13.5s), and Gasly (1m15.4s) in tenth.

On lap 43 Verstappen pits for fresh hard tyres and rejoins sixth.

At lap 50 Russell leads Antonelli by 5.7, followed by Leclerc (15.2s), Hamilton (18.3s), Norris (52.9s), Verstappen (53.5s), Bearman (1m23.8s), Linbblad (1m28,7s), Bortoleto (1 lap), and Gasly in tenth place.

At the finish Russell wins over Antonelli and Leclerc.