George Russell Wins First Formula 1 Race of 2026 at Australian Grand Prix
George Russell has clinched the first F1 win of the 2026 season!
The 28-year-old Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team driver converted his pole position to a win on Sunday (March 8) in the 2026 Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia.
Completing the podium was George‘s teammate Kimi Antonelli in second for a double podium to kick off the season, as well as Scuderia Ferrari HP’s Charles Leclerc, who just got married, in third.
This year kicks off a new regulation era in Formula 1, along with an 11th team on the grid for the first time in years.
Unfortunately, five drivers did not start or finish the Australian Grand Prix. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg did not make it to the start line, while Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull Racing’s Isack Hadjar did not finish.
The next F1 race is scheduled for next weekend – the season continues with the 2026 Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit in China. First practice takes place on Friday (March 13) and the race will begin Sunday, March 15th at 3am ET.
Browse through the gallery to see more photos from the first Formula 1 podium of 2026…