George Russell claims victory at the Australian Grand Prix as Mercedes secures first and second place.
MELBOURNE, Australia — George Russell of Mercedes has claimed victory in an exciting season-opening Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, with teammate Kimi Antonelli finishing in second place, marking the team’s 61st one-two finish and their first since the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Pole position holder Russell experienced a slow start, as did Antonelli, who fell to seventh place, allowing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc — taking advantage of his smaller turbo for a quicker spool-up and launch — to seize the lead heading into turn one.
The Monégasque driver then engaged in a battle for the lead with Russell, exchanging positions multiple times, until the virtual safety car was deployed on lap 12 to address the halted Red Bull car of Isack Hadjar — prompting both Mercedes drivers to pit.
Leclerc secured third place, achieving his first podium for Ferrari since last year’s Mexico race, with the 28-year-old expressing frustration over missing out on a potential victory after Ferrari made a mistake by not following Mercedes’ prompt decision for a cost-effective pit stop during the virtual safety car period, while the rest of the field maintained a slower pace.
Leclerc’s teammate Lewis Hamilton finished in fourth place.
Earlier, local fans were disheartened when McLaren’s Oscar Piastri crashed out on his way to the grid at the exit of turn four, likely due to an energy spike in his power unit, which eliminated him from his home race before it even began.
Source: espn.com
