George Russell wins 2026 Australian Grand Prix for Mercedes

Key facts

• George Russell (No. 63 Mercedes) won the season-opening 2026 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
• Russell secured pole position and led a Mercedes 1-2 finish with teammate Kimi Antonelli (No. 12) in second place.
• Charles Leclerc (No. 16 Ferrari) finished third after Ferrari’s strategy error.
• Oscar Piastri (No. 81 McLaren) crashed 40 minutes before the start after hitting a curb and did not start the race.
• The Mercedes power-unit, under scrutiny from rival teams, remains legal and powered Russell to victory.