F1 2026 Australian Grand Prix results: Russell wins as new era begins in Melbourne

The 2026 Formula 1 season came to life in Melbourne with the first outing for the sport’s new era of regulations.

While the opening half of the race produced plenty of overtaking, several drivers described the driving as artificial, with the energy deployment systems playing a decisive role in the action.

In the end, it was George Russell who converted pole position into victory after fending off early pressure from Charles Leclerc, while team-mate Kimi Antonelli followed him home for a Mercedes 1-2.

Leclerc completed the podium for Ferrari, while Hamilton narrowly missed out in fourth. Lando Norris began his title defence with fifth, while Ollie Bearman impressed with a strong seventh-place finish for Haas and Arvid Lindblad scored points on his F1 debut.

Full summary of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix results

• Winner: George Russell (Mercedes)
• Lewis Hamilton: Narrowly misses out on podium with fourth 
• Lando Norris: Reigning champion finishes a distant fifth 
• Ollie Bearman: Seventh after climbing through the midfield
• Arvid Lindblad: Eighth after early charge

F1 2026 Australian Grand Prix final results and classification

Russell kicks off 2026 in the best way possible

George Russell began the new era of Formula 1 in perfect fashion, converting pole position into victory after an intense duel with Charles Leclerc during the first act.

The Mercedes driver launched from the head of the field, but immediately lost the lead to Charles Leclerc as the Ferrari got a superior getaway. Russell wasted little time responding, closing rapidly and reclaiming the lead with a bold move into Turn 11 on Lap 2.

Leclerc, however, struck back immediately. On the following lap he reclaimed the position and settled into the lead during the early phase of the race.

Russell’s race took shape during his pit cycle. When a Virtual Safety Car was triggered on Lap 12, the Mercedes driver dived into the pits to switch from Mediums to Hards. 

By Lap 28 he had caught Lewis Hamilton, who had inherited the lead during the pit sequence. Russell made his move that lap and never looked back, managing the final stint superbly to cross the line four seconds clear of team-mate Antonelli and secure the first win of the 2026 season.

Hamilton storms through the field

Lewis Hamilton made a sensational start, climbing from seventh to fifth by the end of the opening lap, making good use of Ferrari’s smaller turbo to climb the order. 

The seven-time World Champion then delivered a superb double overtake, dispatching both Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad one after the other through Turns 11 and 12, moving himself into third. 

When the Mercedes driver stopped, Hamilton briefly began closing rapidly on Leclerc ahead, reducing the gap to just over a second by Lap 21.

Russell eventually caught and passed him, after which Hamilton made his own stop and rejoined fourth. Despite pushing hard in the closing laps and closing on Leclerc, he ultimately ran out of time and finished just off the podium.

An anonymous start for the reigning champion

Lando Norris began the defence of his World Championship with a steady drive to fifth place. Having qualified sixth, the McLaren driver held position on the opening lap.

Lando made one of the first stops of the race on Lap 11, switching from Mediums to Hard tyres under the Virtual Safety Car before climbing back through the order during the pit sequence.

A second stop later on Lap 34 returned him to Medium tyres for the final stint, allowing him to push in the closing laps and secure fifth by the chequered flag.

Bearman shines again for Haas

Ollie Bearman continued his impressive form of 2025 with a seventh-place finish in Melbourne. Having qualified in 12th, briefly dropped to 13th on the opening lap before steadily working his way forward during the pit sequence.

Running the Hard tyres through the middle phase of the race allowed him to climb as high as seventh during the closing stages.

The result marked a strong start to the season for Haas, who seems to have used the regulation changes to vault to the top of the midfield.

Lindblad impresses on debut weekend

Arvid Lindblad delivered an eye-catching drive to eighth place after briefly running inside the top three during a chaotic opening lap.

Starting ninth, the rookie surged forward to fourth through the opening corners before passing Isack Hadjar in the Red Bull for third, before Lewis Hamilton and Hadjar relegated him back down to fifth in short order. 

After the pit cycle he found himself running seventh before slipping to eighth in the closing stages.

Despite losing a position late on, it was an encouraging start to the young Brit’s Formula 1 career.

2026 Australian Grand Prix – key takeaways

• George Russell wins the opening race of the 2026 season for Mercedes.
• Lewis Hamilton with good pace but only manages fourth.
• Lando Norris finishes fifth to begin his title defence.
• Ollie Bearman impresses with seventh for Haas.
• Arvid Lindblad scores points with eighth on a strong debut weekend.

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