Russell and Mercedes win F1’s Australian Grand Prix after Piastri crash

George Russell of Mercedes won the Formula One Australian Grand Prix on March 8, 2026, at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. This victory marked Mercedes' first win in Melbourne since 2019, with teammate Kimi Antonelli finishing second, securing a one-two finish for the team. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished third, over 15 seconds behind Russell. The race saw an early crash for home favorite Oscar Piastri before the start, while defending champion Lando Norris finished fifth. Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished sixth after starting 20th due to a qualifying crash.

George Russell of Britain won the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne on March 8, 2026. The Mercedes team achieved a 1-2 finish, with Russell's teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy securing second place. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco finished third. The race also saw an incident during the formation lap, where McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia crashed, though the article does not mention if this affected the race outcome. The victory marks a significant achievement for Russell and the Mercedes team in the Formula One season.