Lewis Hamilton defends Ferrari team despite F1 strategy blunder: ‘No mixed emotions’ Ferrari opted not to pit neither Hamilton nor Charles Leclerc while Mercedes pitted both their drivers The Independent UK · Mar 8
George Russell: "Nothing in the tank" to fend off Charles Leclerc at Australian GP start Russell hadn't harvested enough battery for the start of the F1 2026 season opener, allowing Leclerc to take an early lead Motorsport · Mar 8
Ralf Schumacher: Mercedes still has “room for improvement” after strong Australian GP 1-2 Ralf Schumacher said Mercedes still has more to come in 2026 despite George Russell and Kimi Antonelli sealing a dominant 1-2 in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix Motorsport · Mar 8
George Russell wins Australian GP after thrilling fight with Ferrari in season opener George Russell won the Australian Grand Prix with a commanding drive from pole, with Kimi Antonelli second and Charles Leclerc third The Guardian - AU · Mar 8
Lewis Hamilton left furious at Ferrari as George Russell capitalises for thrilling Australian GP victory Russell lost his lead at the start to Charles Leclerc but when Ferrari opted not to pit either driver, Mercedes saw their opportunity to claim an impressive one-two finish at the season-opener The Independent UK · Mar 8
George Russell emerges from early chaos to win Australian Grand Prix Russell took the chequered flag 2.9 seconds clear of team-mate Kimi Antonelli. The Independent UK · Mar 8
Five quick takeaways from F1’s first race of the new era in Melbourne George Russell confirmed his title favourite status by winning the first race of the season, with Kimi Antonelli finishing second. But is Mercedes’ advantage as big as some feared? Motorsport · Mar 8
F1 Australian GP: Russell leads Mercedes 1-2, Ferrari’s strategy fails George Russell led Kimi Antonelli under the chequered flag as Ferrari opted not to pit under the virtual safety car Autosport · Mar 8
F1 Australian GP: George Russell wins in Mercedes 1-2, Ferrari’s strategy fails George Russell led Kimi Antonelli under the chequered flag as Ferrari opted not to pit under the virtual safety car Motorsport · Mar 8
George Russell wins Australian Grand Prix ahead of Kimi Antonelli – as it happened Russells claims victory in season-opener in Melbourne The Guardian - AU · Mar 8
It sucks: F1 season starts with new cars in spotlight Lando Norris claims Formula One's new cars are the worst the sport has had, unhappy with them ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. AAP · Mar 7
Here is the starting grid for the 2026 Australian F1 Grand Prix George Russell set the fastest time for Mercedes in qualifying for the Australian GP ahead of team-mate Kimi Antonelli - here is the provisional starting grid, pending final approval by the FIA. Motorsport · Mar 7
How Russell guided his "go kart" Mercedes to F1 Australian GP pole by a staggering margin George Russell found half a second to beat Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli to pole position in Melbourne, while third-placed Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull was an ominous 0.785s off Autosport · Mar 7
Mercedes F1 dominance splits drivers as Charles Leclerc shocked and Max Verstappen ‘not surprised’ Mercedes took a 1-2 in qualifying for the F1 2026 opener at Albert Park Motorsport · Mar 7
Evening Standard · Mar 7 George Russell claims Australian Grand Prix pole position for dominant Mercedes Formula One's sweeping technical changes are proving divisive among drivers
The Independent UK · Mar 7 Max Verstappen left ‘drained’ after crash — with George Russell buoyant following Australian GP pole Mercedes locked out the front row with a statement of intent as F1’s new era began with chaos in qualifying
Motorsport · Mar 7 Kimi Antonelli praises Mercedes "heroes" for vast repairs ahead of Australian GP qualifying Antonelli finished second in qualifying after a race to repair his totalled Mercedes F1 car, following a heavy FP3 crash
The Independent UK · Mar 7 George Russell wants to ‘make hay’ after dominating Australian GP qualifying The British driver, 28, arrived for the new campaign in Melbourne as the bookmakers’ favourite.
The Independent UK · Mar 7 Lewis Hamilton suspicious of Mercedes ‘engine power’ after disappointing Australian GP qualifying Hamilton had high hopes heading into Melbourne but could only put his Ferrari car seventh on the grid, while his old team locked out the front row with George Russell on pole
Motorsport · Mar 7 Lando Norris: F1 has gone from “the best cars ever” to "probably the worst” World champion Lando Norris is downbeat on Formula 1's new regulations for 2026 as the new cars split driver opinion
Autosport · Mar 7 Why Norris fears F1 has gone from "the best cars ever" to "probably the worst" World champion Lando Norris is downbeat on Formula 1's new regulations for 2026 as the new cars split driver opinion
Motorsport · Mar 7 Toto Wolff celebrates F1’s move away from “messy” ground-effect cars after Mercedes front-row lockout Mercedes boss Toto Wolff praised Formula 1’s move away from ground-effect cars after George Russell and Kimi Antonelli secured a front-row lockout for the Australian Grand Prix
Motorsport · Mar 7 Mercedes fined €7,500 for Kimi Antonelli incident in F1 Australian GP qualifying Antonelli caused a red flag in Q3 at Albert Park as a piece of debris bounced onto the track
The Guardian - UK · Mar 7 Russell on F1 Australian GP pole in Mercedes lockout as Verstappen crashes out George Russell laid down a marker for Mercedes in qualifying on pole for the F1 season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne
The Independent UK · Mar 7 George Russell seizes opening pole as Mercedes dominate qualifying in Melbourne Title favourite Russell finished 0.293 seconds faster than team-mate Kimi Antonelli with Max Verstappen crashing out on his opening lap.