Formula One: Russell reigns in regulation reset even as Hamilton and Leclerc show early promise in Australian GP

2026 is a new genesis for Formula One. The latest regulations have thrust both the teams and the drivers into an unknown realm. But one aspect seems to have carried on from yesteryear — Ferrari’s strategic indecisions.

When George Russell put his Mercedes on pole position at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne on Saturday by eight-tenths of a second, memories of the Silver Arrows’ dominance of the hybrid era (2014-2021) came hurtling back. It seemed the Brackley-based outfit had left its rivals scrambling behind heading into the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

But when the lights went out, Charles Leclerc’s rip-roaring start temporarily threatened to humble this expected hegemony. Starting fourth on the grid, the scarlet Ferrari zoomed off the line and was ahead of the leading pack before Turn 1. The next few laps saw the lead change hands seven times between the Monegasque driver and Russell, with the duo looking to outsmart one another while relying on the new battery-powered thrusts of speed.

The tight battle at the top and the continuous exchange of positions ensured the pair’s teammates, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton, could close in and make it a four-way fight. But that was until the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was triggered on lap 11 when Isack Hadjar’s engine gave up on his Red Bull debut. 

The medium tyres were only halfway through their shelf life, but Mercedes hit the reset button and opted to pit both its cars. The Ferrari garage, too, had the opportunity to cut down on the time loss in a pit stop, but opted against the move. Hamilton was quick to radio in and tell his engineer that at least one of the cars should have been brought in.

Another opportunity opened itself a few laps later when Valtteri Bottas had to park his Cadillac on the grass in the American outfit’s first race in the top tier of single-seater racing. Unfortunately for the Prancing Horse, Lady Luck wasn’t smiling on them. The second VSC was triggered after the two Ferrari cars had crossed the pit lane line, and by the time they could come around again, the pit entry had been closed while Bottas’ car was wheeled back to a position of safety. Leclerc and Hamilton were then forced to complete their mandatory stop under green-flag conditions.

Leclerc and Hamilton share a laugh before the race. With Mercedes opting to go for a one-stop strategy despite pitting its drivers early in the race, Ferrari’s only bet was to hope its rival’s tyres would fall off a cliff towards the end of the race.
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With Mercedes opting to go for a one-stop strategy despite pitting its drivers early in the race, Ferrari’s only bet was to hope its rival’s tyres would fall off a cliff towards the end of the race. The plan never came to fruition as Russell took the honours at the chequered flag with his teammate behind him in second. Leclerc finished 12 seconds adrift — almost the exact time lost by not pitting under the VSC, with Hamilton less than a second behind. There is no certainty that the Ferraris had the pace to thwart their rival had they pitted early, but on an engine-intensive track, in a car that was almost half a second slower, it was their best bet to start the season with a win.

Elsewhere, four-time world champion Max Verstappen enjoyed a positive race after crashing out of qualifying, cruising through the pack on an alternate strategy. The Dutch driver discarded the pre-decided plan under VSC conditions, opting for a two-stopper, which helped him finish sixth, just behind reigning champion Lando Norris, who had a largely uneventful race and was well off the pace compared to the top two teams.

Arvid Lindblad, the only rookie on the roster, enjoyed an impressive maiden race, finishing eighth for Racing Bulls. Home favourite Oscar Piastri crashed on his way to the grid in an unfortunate incident that extended the circuit’s curse on Aussie drivers. Aston Martin, in the news for its struggles with heavy vibrations, left with just a participation certificate to show from the season opener.

There was far more action on the track compared to previous years, although almost all overtaking stemmed from residual battery power. After Race 1, one thing is certain about the 2026 regulations: the drivers’ intellect will play as much of a role as the raw speed they possess.

MotoGP

Marco Bezzecchi, winner of the first MotoGP race of the season in Thailand.
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REUTERS

The opening race of the MotoGP season was Aprilia’s to savour. The Italian manufacturer locked out four of the top five places at the Thai Grand Prix, with factory rider Marco Bezzecchi taking home the win under scorching conditions. His teammate Jorge Martin, who has been blighted by injuries since his 2024 triumph, came home fourth. The Spaniard split Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez (third) and Ai Ogura. Defending champion Marc Marquez was forced to retire a few laps from the end after aggressive kerb riding caused a puncture on his rear tyre.

Published on Mar 11, 2026