Listen to F1 Nation's Australian GP review

George Russell kicked off his 2026 Championship campaign in perfect fashion, securing victory at the Australian Grand Prix, the season's thrilling opener. Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli challenged him closely, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc also demonstrated strong pace, engaging in exciting lead exchanges with Russell in the early laps under the new regulations. The podium battle primarily involved Mercedes and Ferrari, with McLaren and Red Bull appearing to be a step behind. The race saw its share of drama and mixed fortunes. Oscar Piastri's home race ended prematurely with a pre-race crash, leaving Lando Norris to finish fifth for McLaren. Max Verstappen delivered a superb recovery drive from 20th to sixth, while Oliver Bearman impressed by topping the midfield for Haas. However, reliability concerns plagued several teams, with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar and Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas retiring. Aston Martin also faced a tough day, as Fernando Alonso retired after a strong start, and Lance Stroll finished multiple laps down.