Mercedes Victory
George Russell leads dominant Mercedes 1-2 in eventful 2026 Australian Grand Prix
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George Russell guided Mercedes to a commanding 1-2 finish with rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli at the Formula 1 season-opening 2026 Australian Grand Prix on March 8 at Albert Park, heralding the new regulations era of 50/50 hybrid power units, active aerodynamics, and sustainable fuels. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc held third ahead of Lewis Hamilton by one second, while McLaren's Lando Norris took fifth after Oscar Piastri crashed pre-start.
Formula 1 drivers expressed widespread dissatisfaction with the new 2026 regulations following the Australian Grand Prix, citing unnatural driving techniques due to battery management. Mercedes secured a dominant 1-2 finish with George Russell winning ahead of Kimi Antonelli, while Max Verstappen recovered from a qualifying crash to finish sixth. The event at Albert Park highlighted the challenges of the energy-poor track under the revised power unit rules.