Round two brings F1 to China’s commercial and financial capital, Shanghai, a circuit which over the past two decades the race has become one full of action and drama, adding to that scene its return in 2024 following its Covid hiatus. Since joining the calendar, the Shanghai International Circuit has become one of the best
Last Updated | 08 March 2026 Mercedes Kimi Antonelli (12 | ITA) Out of George Russell (63 | GBR) GP Qualifying 0 1 1 Grand Prix 0 1 Sprint Qualifying 0 0 0 Sprint 0 0 Red Bull – Ford RBPT Max Verstappen (03 | NED) Out of Isack Hadjar (06 | FRA) GP
Analysis, reaction and talking points, plus the story of the weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, at Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne. Plus the biggest news stories from the last seven days looking at what they mean for F1, both on and off track
Po Name Nat Team Time Points 1 George Russell GBR Mercedes 01:23:06.801 25 2 Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli ITA Mercedes +00:02.974 18 3 Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari +00:15.519 15 4 Lewis Hamilton GBR Ferrari +00:16.144 13 5 Lando Norris GBR McLaren – Mercedes +00:51.741 10 6 Max Verstappen NED Red Bull – Ford RBPT +00:54.617 8
George Russell took a comfortable, near three second victory ahead of Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. The pole sitter had initially lost out to the two Ferraris as they got a better start, which set the stage for a race-long fight between the two Mercedes and the Ferrari duo of
Po Name Nat Team Q1 Q2 Q3 1 George Russell GBR Mercedes 01:19.502 01:18.934 01:18.518 2 Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli ITA Mercedes 01:20.120 01:19.435 01:18.811 3 Isack Hadjar FRE Red Bull – Ford RBPT 01:20.023 01:19.653 01:19.303 4 Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari 01:20.226 01:19.357 01:19.327 5 Oscar Piastri AUS McLaren – Mercedes 01:19.664 01:19.525 01:19.380 6
George Russell has beaten his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli by nearly three tenths to take pole for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. The Englishman unleashed the expected pace of the silver arrows to set an 18.518 going ahead of his Italian teammate and creating a seven-tenths advantage over the Red Bull of Isack Hadjar. Russell
Oscar Piastri was fastest in second practice for this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix. The Melbournian set a 19.729, putting himself two tenths faster than the Mercedes duo, with Kimi Antonelli a tenth faster than teammate George Russell following an interesting session. Piastri held on despite only going fastest in the first sector on his
Charles Leclerc was fastest in first practice for this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the Monacan set a 20.267, putting himself four and a half tenths faster than Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton. Leclerc’s fastest lap came at the end of the session, which passed without drama. But it was a very busy hour as all
The latest news and analysis behind the headlines ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, looking at the biggest talking points going into this race in Melbourne
