The temper after qualifying was darkish, however the gentle returned with an exhilarating race in Melbourne.
The brand new F1 season lastly acquired beneath method with the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday (Picture: Getty)
Boy, have been these Method 1 drivers mad after qualifying. A number of the sport’s largest names and personalities just about eviscerated these new vehicles after the primary Saturday of the 2026 season, with four-time champion Max Verstappen and final yr’s title winner Lando Norris notably vocal about how a lot they hate the courageous new world of F1 racing.
The overall consensus amongst drivers is that these new vehicles, powered by engines that rely far more on electrical energy than ever earlier than, aren’t any enjoyable to drive. In qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix the drawbacks have been plain to see, particularly from the on-board photographs as we have been uncovered to the painful sound of vehicles slowing down – ‘tremendous clipping’, as they’re calling it – lengthy earlier than they attain a nook on the finish of an extended straight.
Lap instances have been additionally down – George Russell’s pole place time was three-and-a-half seconds slower than Lando Norris’ field-leading lap from the 2025 Melbourne occasion. However that was to be anticipated, given final yr’s vehicles had been developed for greater than three years in an unchanged ruleset. Within the current day, groups nonetheless have so much to find out about their new racing machines.
However what we did be taught on Sunday is that these vehicles have the potential to supply a brilliantly entertaining season. Whereas appreciating and acknowledging that these ‘conclusions’ are based mostly on a pattern of 1 single Grand Prix, few who woke earlier than daybreak within the UK and Europe or stayed up late within the Americas to tune in to the occasions Down Underneath have been left disillusioned.
The beginning specifically was thrilling. As was anticipated after testing, we noticed a really different set of launches off the road with the Ferraris particularly getting away effectively. That thrust Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton into competition for victory for a time, and likewise set Kimi Antonelli again as he misplaced a number of locations firstly.
The cat-and-mouse ways seemingly required to make overtakes stick by managing battery ranges and utilizing ‘Overtake Mode’, which has changed DRS for this yr, led to a lot of place adjustments within the opening stint of the race. Russell vs Leclerc for the lead was a very absorbing heavyweight slugfest for a time, till methods cut up as Mercedes made an early cease and Ferrari selected to remain out. Boo!
The Scuderia gambled on Mercedes needing to modify to a two-stop technique due to their early go to to the pit lane, however the W17s have been kinder to their tyres than Ferrari had hoped and, in the long run, they needed to settle for only one automotive on the rostrum. However that itself offered a enjoyable late battle, as Leclerc efficiently defended towards his team-mate to disclaim Hamilton a primary Grand Prix podium in purple.
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What F1 could have been happy to see was that, regardless that Mercedes did safe most factors with a one-two end, they weren’t too far away from the chasing pack. Russell acquired his title bid off to the right begin with victory, 15 seconds away from Leclerc in third. We have seen a lot larger profitable margins at some races in recent times. Russell sang: “I like these vehicles, I like these engines,” as he crossed the road. Properly, he would!
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5 British drivers have been within the prime eight on the finish of the race, together with Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad who loved a stellar F1 debut. There was heartbreak in the primary Pink Bull group, although, as Isack Hadjar pulled over early on with a mechanical failure after impressively qualifying third for his first race as Verstappen’s team-mate.
All in, it was a thorougly absorbing 90 minutes of Grand Prix racing. Melbourne often delivers a enjoyable occasion and, as talked about, it’s a pattern of only one race. So let’s not get forward of ourselves however, based mostly on the restricted accessible proof, it appears this much-maligned new period of F1 has potential in spite of everything.
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