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Motorsport
Motorsport

Mercedes F1 dominance splits drivers as Charles Leclerc shocked and Max Verstappen ‘not surprised’

The Formula 1 grid is split on how much it expected Mercedes to dominate qualifying for the 2026 season-opening Australian Grand Prix after George Russell led a Silver Arrows 1-2. 

Russell took his eighth career pole after beating team-mate Kimi Antonelli by 0.293s, with third-placed Isack Hadjar close to eight tenths off the pace on his Red Bull debut. 

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