As expected, Mercedes secured a one-two finish in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. George Russell crossed the line in first place, closely followed by Kimi Antonelli. The Brackley-based team once again demonstrated its superiority, although the gap to their rivals was smaller than anticipated. Ferrari was particularly impressive in the opening phase, with Charles Leclerc taking advantage of the start to move into the lead and resist Russell’s attacks in a thrilling head-to-head battle. The two Mercedes drivers regained the lead through a strategic opportunity provided by a virtual safety car caused by Isack Hadjar, and they controlled the race comfortably until the checkered flag.
Russell: “We expected Ferrari to be this strong”
“It’s incredible. The start was really tough, but we knew it would be,” George Russell explained. “When I got to the grid, I noticed the battery was no longer fully charged. I had a poor start and then engaged in some very tight battles with Charles. We suspected a yo-yo effect would happen: whenever one of us got ahead, it would be impossible to maintain the lead. In straight mode, we lose a lot at the front of the car, so we understeer heavily in corners. It was a bit risky, but we managed it.”
George Russell highlighted that the gap to Ferrari was expected, making race management more challenging, particularly with an early pit stop that worried the team due to the risk of not finishing the race. “We knew Ferrari would be fast. The real surprise was seeing them further back in qualifying yesterday, but today their pace didn’t shock us. Perhaps we had one or two tenths of an advantage, but not the seven tenths from yesterday. Without the safety car, I’m not at all sure we would have won. Ferrari was extremely quick in crucial sections and could have taken the win.”
When asked whether Mercedes could win every race this season, Russell was categorical. “Win them all? Definitely not. The competition is too strong to think about a perfect streak.”
On race management: “I thought the tyres wouldn’t drop off until I reached 0% wear. With all the rubber off the track, I was a bit concerned in the final laps, I must admit. But I felt confident in the car and knew when to push and when to manage.”
Russell also addressed criticisms from Lando Norris regarding the new regulations. McLaren struggled today, finishing around 50 seconds behind the race leaders. The reigning world champion didn’t hold back. “If he were winning, I don’t think he’d be saying the same. We weren’t happy with the stiffness of last year’s cars and the porpoising issue. Everyone had back pain and drivers complained, while McLaren drivers said they had no bouncing, even though we observed their car behaving incorrectly. Everyone looks after themselves, and we’re all selfish in that sense.”
He also added comments on the power unit situation: “The truth is last year we had the same engine and McLaren did a better job and beat us. Now McLaren has the same engine as us, as Williams, and as Alpine, and so far we’ve done a better job than them. That’s how it goes.”
Antonelli: “Happy because I reacted well to everything”
Kimi Antonelli, who finished second, experienced the same issue as George Russell. “The start was critical because I immediately noticed an anomaly. I couldn’t even warm the tyres during the formation lap. I felt a lack of power and the car didn’t respond at all to my throttle inputs, leaving me extremely anxious. Once on my grid slot, selecting the dedicated map, I saw a worrying zero on the battery level. It was a blow to the heart, and unfortunately the start suffered for both Mercedes drivers.”
Despite the poor start, Kimi Antonelli patiently rebuilt his race, showing pace comparable to his teammate and even exceeding it in some sections. “We know we can optimize the launch phases more after testing, but the fact remains that the car is extremely competitive. I owe everything to the garage team that rebuilt the car in record time after the FP3 crash. Behind the wheel, I feel comfortable; the car responds well in every corner and is a very balanced package. We must not let our guard down. Ferrari was very threatening during the first stint, and we know the balance of power can change in an instant. The positive thing this weekend is that I reacted well to every situation. I feel good in the car, the pace is solid. I can do some good things.”
Kimi Antonelli can be satisfied with his weekend, which will certainly help him grow and be increasingly ready as the season progresses. Beating George Russell won’t be easy, but the season is long and opportunities will come.
The Australian Grand Prix served as a perfect microcosm of the 2026 era: a high-tech battle where battery management and software reliability are just as crucial as aerodynamic efficiency. While George Russell and Kimi Antonelli managed to overcome their start-line battery issues to claim a historic 1-2 for Mercedes, the sheer pace displayed by Ferrari indicates that the Silver Arrows’ reign is under immediate threat. As the paddock prepares for the long straights of Shanghai, the focus shifts to whether Mercedes can iron out these technical “anomalies” before their rivals find a way to turn that pressure into a race victory.
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