Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Mercedes' star driver George Russell secured a resounding victory in the opening race of the 2026 Formula 1 season, the Australian Grand Prix, marked a strong start for the Mercedes team in the new regulation era, with Russell leading his teammate, Kimi Antonelli, to a 1-2 finish.
The race, held on March 8, 2026, at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, was a showcase for the team's clever strategy and impressive driver performances.
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Russell demonstrated his ability to maintain tire integrity and capitalize on crucial moments to secure the lead.
"I'm feeling incredible. It was a hell of a fight at the beginning. We knew it was going to be challenging and I got on the grid and I saw my battery level had nothing in the tank," said Russell.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc completed the podium in third place, while Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris also put in solid performances.
"I made a bad start and obviously some really tight battles with Charles, so I was really glad to cross the finish line."
Mercedes' Sharp Strategy at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix
George Russell's victory at the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix was largely due to the Mercedes team's brilliant strategy.
They successfully utilized two Virtual Safety Car (VSC) pit stops, a move that proved highly advantageous.
Meanwhile, Ferrari, which had led early in the race through Charles Leclerc, opted not to pit during the VSC period.
This decision gave Russell and Antonelli a significant positional advantage, allowing them to surge ahead.
Russell demonstrated exceptional tire management throughout the race, maintaining optimal tire performance until the end.
This was crucial in maintaining his lead and securing victory by 2.974 seconds over his teammate, Antonelli.
"A good race," said Russell after taking his sixth career win.
"Today was more aligned with what we thought. We maybe had a tenth or two advantage but not the seven tenths of yesterday."
George Russell: Profile of the Formula 1's Rising Star
George William Russell, born on February 15, 1998, is now 28 years old and has become one of the biggest names in Formula 1.
The British driver made his debut at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix and currently races for Mercedes with car number 63.
Russell's racing career began at the age of seven in karting.
He then won the BRDC Formula 4 Championship in 2014, the GP3 Series in 2017, and the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2018, becoming only the fifth driver to win the GP2/Formula 2 championship in his rookie season.
Having joined the Mercedes Junior Program in 2017, Russell replaced Lewis Hamilton at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, showcasing his potential.
His first Formula 1 victory came at the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix.
By the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, Russell had collected six race wins, eight pole positions, 11 fastest laps, and 25 podium finishes in Formula 1.
His contract with Mercedes would extend until at least the end of the 2026 season.
Highlights and Surprises at the Albert Park Circuit
In addition to Mercedes' victory, the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix also featured several other exciting moments.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen demonstrated remarkable recovery, finishing sixth after starting from 20th position following a qualifying crash.
Unfortunately, McLaren's Oscar Piastri was unable to start the race after crashing on his way to the grid.
This incident was a major blow for the McLaren team at Piastri's home race.
Several young drivers also stole the show with impressive performances.
Oliver Bearman (Haas) finished seventh, while Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) scored points on his debut with an eighth-place finish while Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine) completed the top ten.