The Australian Grand Prix got off to an eventful start despite the mixed feelings up and down the paddock about the new era of Formula 1.
Mercedes’ George Russell converted pole position into a race win, with team-mate Kimi Antonelli claiming a one-two for the Silver Arrows.
Russell’s Imperious Drive
George Russell had an imperious weekend. He has been title favourite since pre-season testing.
Russell found himself with no battery for the race start which led to a poor launch off the line and lost him the lead of the race. Once through on Charles Leclerc, Russell was rarely forced to push hard.
Antonelli’s Recovery to Second
Kimi Antonelli made a good recovery, after being behind his Mercedes team-mate for the majority of the weekend. Antonelli’s huge crash in final practice left him and his mechanics with a lot of work to do.
Only Max Verstappen’s red flag in qualifying allowed Mercedes enough time to get out. Even then, Antonelli looked on the verge of putting it in the wall.
A front-row grid spot, followed by a poor launch and recovery back to second, leads to a solid start overall.
Other Driver Performances
Charles Leclerc made a mega start to take the lead of the race at Turn One. Leclerc had great fighting with Russell in the early stages.
He didn’t put a foot wrong but ultimately Ferrari strategy cost him a chance at more.
Lewis Hamilton was quick from the off. There’s a refreshed aura around Hamilton this year and while I was surprised to see him not qualify ahead of team-mate Leclerc, an equally brilliant start off the line saw him in contention.
Hamilton was let down by Ferrari strategy but had enough in the tank to keep on Leclerc’s heels right to the chequered flag.
Oliver Bearman kept quietly under the radar all weekend until it mattered most. He looked a little behind in the midfield pack through Friday running but outqualified team-mate Esteban Ocon convincingly and beautifully raced his way to seventh place. A great start.
Lando Norris was not happy with the new regulations and got very limited running throughout the weekend with various issues. He couldn’t outqualify his team-mate Oscar Piastri but did keep things neat and tidy and fended off Max Verstappen at the end.
Max Verstappen looked a little off throughout practice and an uncharacteristic crash in the first part of qualifying left him with work to do. He clawed his way up through to points from 20th but couldn’t pip Norris for fifth place. Verstappen is another man absolutely fuming at the new regulations.
British Drivers Shine
The five British drivers finished in the top eight in Melbourne. George Russell won and Oliver Bearman finished seventh.
Arvid Lindblad was super impressed all weekend long. He had the measure of Racing Bulls team-mate Liam Lawson from the off but couldn’t deliver in the final qualifying lap which left him behind. A great start saw him climb to third from eighth. Lindblad raced well against Verstappen and had a brilliant battery-management battle with Gabriel Bortoleto.