The Australian GP 2026 was won by George Russell at Albert Park, with Kimi Antonelli finishing second and Charles Leclerc completing the podium. The race marked the opening round of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
It marked a powerful statement from Mercedes at the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Who won the Australian GP 2026?
From the moment the lights went out, the 2026 Australian Grand Prix delivered wheel to wheel action. Russell did not get the cleanest launch from pole, with Leclerc surging into the lead at Turn 1. The lead changed hands multiple times in the opening laps as the new 2026 Overtake Mode produced aggressive racing rarely seen at Albert Park.
Russell reclaimed control on Lap 2, lost it again, then fought back once more as he and Leclerc traded blows in a thrilling early duel. Behind them, Lewis Hamilton remained firmly in contention, while Antonelli recovered from a difficult launch to rejoin the fight.
Virtual Safety Car periods proved decisive. Mercedes committed to a bold one stop strategy on hard tyres, stretching their stint deep into the race. As rivals juggled tyre degradation and energy deployment, Russell steadily built a gap.
By the final laps, he was managing the race from the front.
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Australian GP 2026 full podium
The full top three from Melbourne:
- George Russell – Mercedes
- Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
Russell crossed the line 2.9 seconds clear of Antonelli after 58 laps. Leclerc held off intense late pressure from Hamilton, securing third by just 0.6 seconds.
Over team radio, Russell summed up his satisfaction: “Very nice, very nice. I like this car. I like this engine!”
As he pulled towards the pit wall to greet the waiting Mercedes mechanics, the message was clear. The Silver Arrows are firmly back in the title conversation.
Key moments from the 2026 Australian Grand Prix
The closing phase was far from processional. Hamilton chased Leclerc relentlessly for the final podium place, while further back Lando Norris held off Max Verstappen in a fierce scrap for fifth.
Mercedes’ tyre gamble was the defining factor. Both Russell and Antonelli ran long on ageing hard compounds, resisting pressure to pit again. Ferrari, meanwhile, stuck to their original one stop plan but could not match the outright pace of the Mercedes pair once the race settled.
Behind the top six, Oliver Bearman headed the midfield, finishing seventh ahead of Arvid Lindblad, Gabriel Bortoleto and Pierre Gasly, who claimed the final point.
Further down the order, Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson, Franco Colapinto, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez completed the classification.
Notably, local favourite Oscar Piastri crashed before the race even began on his out lap to the grid, ending his home Grand Prix before the start. Nico Hulkenberg also failed to take the start due to technical issues.
What the result means for the championship
The Australian GP 2026 result gives Mercedes maximum momentum heading into the second round. A 1-2 finish places them firmly atop the Constructors standings, while Russell takes an early lead in the Drivers championship.
If the season opener is any indication, the primary battle could centre on Russell versus Leclerc, with Antonelli emerging as a genuine contender in just the first race of the new era.
The 2026 championship is underway, and after Melbourne, one name leads the way. George Russell won the Australian GP 2026.
