Formula 1 triumph! Mercedes secures a dominant one-two at the Australian Grand Prix
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
The start of Formula 1’s new era in 2026 saw Mercedes deliver an emphatic display of dominance.
Details: At the opening round of the season in Melbourne, the British team left no chance for their rivals, locking out the top two steps of the podium. George Russell clinched victory after a tense race, while his young teammate Kimi Antonelli made a triumphant debut as a full-time driver, finishing second.
The rest of the top four was claimed by Ferrari. Charles Leclerc climbed to the third step of the podium, while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton—making his debut race for the Italian squad—finished just shy of the podium in fourth place.
The race was packed with incidents: of the 22 drivers who started, only 16 made it to the chequered flag. It was a dramatic home race for Oscar Piastri, who crashed out on the formation lap. Nico Hülkenberg, representing the Audi project, also suffered technical issues at the start.
Reminder: Max Verstappen failed to qualify for the Australian Grand Prix.
