The Formula 1 season kicked off last night in Australia. At the Albert Park circuit, Briton George Russell took the victory, ahead of his young teammate Kimi Antonelli. Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc, for Ferrari, completed the podium, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris (McLaren), and Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who staged a spectacular comeback from 20th on the grid. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) was forced to retire, while Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Esteban Ocon (Haas) finished 10th and 11th respectively.
A controlled victory for Russell
Starting from the front, George Russell managed his race perfectly on the Melbourne circuit. Solid in the early stints and efficient during pit stops, the Mercedes driver was never truly challenged at the front of the race. This victory confirms Mercedes' ambitions for the new season.
Russell notably managed to maintain a steady pace despite pressure from the pack and the different tire strategies attempted by his rivals.
Antonelli impresses for Mercedes
Behind him, the young Italian Kimi Antonelli made a strong impression. In his first full season in Formula 1, the Mercedes driver delivered a very solid performance, finishing second.
This result allows the German team to achieve a resounding double, a strong signal sent to the competition from the very first round of the championship.
Ferrari on the podium with Leclerc
Despite a strong race, Charles Leclerc couldn't keep pace with the Mercedes. The Ferrari driver nevertheless secured third place, giving the Scuderia a podium finish.
A promising start to the season
This Australian Grand Prix kicks off the season, which has been heavily criticized by some drivers due to the new regulations requiring cars to slow down on the straights to regain electrical energy, as their engines are hybrid. Russell's victory and Antonelli's strong performance reshuffle the deck and foreshadow a close battle between Mercedes, Ferrari, and the other teams throughout the championship.
Attention now turns to the next round of the calendar, on March 15 in China.
