George Russell leads Mercedes 1-2 in Australian Grand Prix -- as it happened
Why it matters: Mercedes' strong start signals a potential shift in the 2026 F1 championship landscape.
- George Russell secured a dominant win for Mercedes, leading a 1-2 finish with teammate Kimi Antonelli.
- Ferrari's Charles Leclerc initially led the race after a strong start, but Mercedes' superior pace ultimately prevailed.
- Max Verstappen delivered a sensational performance, climbing from 20th to sixth after a qualifying crash, as noted by the main article.
- Oscar Piastri crashed out during the formation lap, adding early drama to the race.
- Sky Sports corroborates the main article's account of Russell's win and Mercedes denying Ferrari, emphasizing the 'wild' nature of the season-opener.
Mercedes dominated the 2026 Australian Grand Prix season opener with George Russell leading a 1-2 finish, denying Ferrari a victory despite an early lead from Charles Leclerc. Reigning champion Lando Norris finished fifth, while Max Verstappen impressively climbed to sixth after starting last.
