By Joe Murphy
George Russell won the thrilling season opener of the 2026 Formula One World Championship, securing a one-two finish for Mercedes, their first since 2020. Russell’s victory marked a strong start to the season, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing third and fourth, respectively for Ferrari, behind Russell’s Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli.
Reigning World Champion Lando Norris finished fifth, managing to hold Max Verstappen who had recovered from a disastrous Saturday to finish well, but had to settle for sixth. It wasn’t such good news for their respective teammates, with Isack Hadjar having to retire despite a promising start in the sister Red Bull, whilst hometown hero Oscar Piastri missed the race entirely after crashing on his way to the grid. This meant that, unfortunately for the Aussie, the McLaren man never got to see ‘lights out’ for his home race.
The race started with intense competition, with the lead changing seven times in the opening six laps. Ferrari were quick off the line, and so was the aforementioned Hadjar. Kimi not so much.
A virtual safety car played a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the Grand Prix, while Russell’s one pit stop strategy gave him a decisive edge over Leclerc, to go with the extra speed. Mercedes’ strategy proved optimal, allowing Russell to win with eventual relative ease.
Elsewhere on the grid, Audi made a promising debut, scoring points in their first Formula One race through Gabriel Bortoleto. Racing Bulls also had a successful Sunday, in part thanks to a strong performance from British rookie Arvid Lindblad on his debut. However, Cadillac had a disappointing return, with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas struggling to make an impact. Aston Martin’s season got off to a rocky start, with both drivers failing to finish the race.
The focus now shifts to the Chinese Grand Prix, Round Two of the season next weekend, with a tantilising rivalry between Mercedes and Ferrari set to captivate fans as we head through the year.
WHEEL2WHEEL REPORTS 