Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
The Australian Grand Prix gave us the first taste of the new regulations and cars, and there were multiple talking points from the 2026 season opener.
George Russell claimed victory from pole position in Melbourne and the first win under the new technical regulations. Mercedes enjoyed a strong battle with Ferrari throughout the Australian Grand Prix, but the Silver Arrows came out on top.
Kimi Antonelli was second, locking out a Mercedes 1-2 finish, with Charles Leclerc third ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. Defending champion Lando Norris was fifth, with 2025 title rival Max Verstappen in P6 after starting in 20th.
What would you rate the Australian Grand Prix out of 10?
Two cars failed to start the race as Nico Hulkenberg did not get out of the garage for his Audi debut, while Oscar Piastri crashed on the sighting lap on his way to the grid.
Isack Hadjar and Valtteri Bottas suffered mechanical retirements, while, as expected, neither Aston Martin made it to the chequered flag, but Lance Stroll was classified in the final results, albeit 15 laps down.
There were many points of discussion and incidents to take away from the Australian GP, so here are five things we learned from the season opener in 2026.
Mercedes and Ferrari look on top, but Mercedes and George Russell clearly have the edge
Almost everyone was backing Mercedes to be the fastest car coming into Melbourne. That was proven when they went seven tenths clear of their nearest rivals in qualifying, and then secured a 1-2 finish.
But after an impressive pre-season, Ferrari looked to be the Silver Arrows’ closest competitors. Leclerc took the lead at the first corner from P4 on the grid and enjoyed a great battle with Russell, which almost saw Hamilton challenge for the lead as well.
Mercedes claim a one-two finish to start F1’s new era! Which driver stands out from the top 10 of the Australian Grand Prix?
Let us know in the comments below!
But after Ferrari did not pit their drivers during the virtual safety car stoppages, it was Mercedes who got the better of the Maranello outfit. Leclerc felt he could not have won the race, but it is clear that the team have taken a step forward.
Ferrari look to be competitive in 2026 and can fight for race wins, but at the moment, Mercedes have the upper hand, and Russell can command the field this year.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Mercedes F1 Team from team principal to lineage
McLaren and Red Bull have work to do to catch the front two teams
Norris and Verstappen were the only other drivers to finish on the lead lap, and they were roughly 35 seconds behind the Ferraris and over 50 seconds behind Mercedes.
Neither McLaren nor Red Bull were helped by the fact that only one of their cars finished, with Piastri crashing and Hadjar having an engine failure. Furthermore, Verstappen starting P20 limited what he could do in the race.
That said, it is clear that McLaren and Red Bull are not on par with Mercedes and Ferrari, and they have some development to do throughout the season to catch them.
Battery saving and race starts with 2026 cars are terrible as Oscar Piastri crashes
Piastri’s crash before the race had even started was perhaps the biggest talking point in Melbourne. The home hero complained about issues with the battery and having more power than expected on the sighting lap – it is the main problem with the new regulations.
Battery saving was a major concern for the drivers coming into the season and many have been vocal about how difficult it has been to adapt. Hearing cars downshifting down the straights and fast sections to save energy really does not make for good viewing.
DISASTER for Oscar Piastri! He crashes before the Australian Grand Prix has even started!
Then there is the issue of race starts and how complicated it has become for drivers to get off the line. Some teams aced it, such as Ferrari, but others struggled off the grid, which almost resulted in a horrible accident as Franco Colapinto narrowly avoided rear-ending Liam Lawson.
Seeing so many overtakes in the race was brilliant, but seeing them happen unexpectedly due to the battery is frustrating for the drivers, and it is certain to be a contentious issue throughout the season.
Lewis Hamilton is revived with the 2026 regulations
Alex Albon felt Hamilton would suit the 2026 regulations more than any other driver, and the Australian GP proved that the seven-time champion is much more comfortable with this ruleset.
Hamilton was almost involved in the battle for the lead with Russell and Leclerc in the early stages, and with more laps, he probably could have caught his Ferrari teammate for his maiden podium in red.
While he had to settle for P4, the Brit was brimming with confidence during the race and was left smiling in the media pen afterwards. There are plenty of positives to take, and those are clear signs that Hamilton is revived and ready to fight in 2026.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
Oliver Bearman and Arvid Lindblad prove they will be 2026’s surprise packages
Looking outside the top-four teams, Oliver Bearman and Arvid Lindblad were the clear standout performers. The former was P7 for Haas, while the latter finished an impressive P8 on debut.
Lindblad was running as high as third at one point after a blistering start, and he was able to hold his own and score four points for Racing Bulls. The pressure did not get to the young rookie, and it highlights how he could surprise people in 2026.
CHANGE MY MIND – Oliver Bearman will be the breakout Formula 1 star of 2026 👇
Do you agree with Jenson Button's assessment of Bearman's Australian Grand Prix performance?
Jenson Button backed Bearman as the Driver of the Day, and it was not hard to see why, as he showed his class getting through the field to finish in seventh. The two Brits are definitely ones to watch this year.
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