The 2026 season began with a new era of regulations, two new teams on the grid, and Oscar Piastri destroying his McLaren before the race even started. In front of his own grandstand. At his home race.
What Happened on Track
Winner: George Russell (Mercedes). Podium: Russell — Antonelli — Leclerc.
Russell won from pole but Leclerc launched from fourth and led immediately — Ferrari had designed their car specifically for the new starting procedure. Russell and Leclerc traded the lead seven times in the opening nine laps.
The race turned on lap 11 when Hadjar's Red Bull broke down, triggering a Virtual Safety Car. Mercedes pitted both cars. Ferrari didn't. Russell and Antonelli went 1-2 and never lost those positions.
Final top 6: Russell · Antonelli · Leclerc · Hamilton · Norris · Verstappen
The Storylines That Made It
Piastri. He clipped a kerb on his out-lap and damaged his McLaren so badly he couldn't start. His own grandstand — packed 95% in papaya and green — watched him walk away.
Verstappen from last. Crashed out of qualifying on Saturday, started P20, finished 6th.
Aston Martin's nightmare. Honda's new power unit was causing vibrations tearing battery units apart. The team warned both cars might not finish. They were right.
Cadillac's debut. The eleventh team on the grid for the first time since 2016. Pérez finished. Bottas didn't. But they made it there.
Mercedes is back. Their energy deployment advantage was so significant that even customer teams couldn't figure out how to replicate it with the same engine.
What It Was Like to Be There
The Piastri grandstand had one of the great sporting atmospheres of the year — before the race. 95% of the crowd in papaya and green, cardboard cutouts, real home-hero energy. Then he crashed on the way to the grid.
Away from the circuit, Melbourne delivered. Fan Festival at Federation Square, concerts at Albert Park including Rita Ora and Basement Jaxx, the McLaren pop-up at West Beach Pavilion, and the post-race track walk returning after a brief hiatus.
Melbourne just works for Formula 1 in a way most venues can't match.
Championship After Round 1
Russell 25pts · Antonelli 18pts · Leclerc 15pts · Hamilton 12pts · Norris 10pts.
Mercedes led both championships immediately. The question was whether Ferrari could close the gap before the new cars became better understood.
Watched Drive to Survive Season 8 First?
Season 8 covers the 2025 season — Hamilton's move to Ferrari, Antonelli arriving at Mercedes, McLaren's title defence.
Australia 2026 is where those storylines paid off or fell apart. Hamilton in Ferrari red. Antonelli finishing second on merit. Norris unable to score as his McLaren sat broken in parc fermé.
If Season 8 made you care about these drivers, the 2026 season is where it gets interesting.
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