Mercedes began the new Formula One era in emphatic style at the Australian Grand Prix, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli securing a dominant one-two finish. The team had played down their expected advantage in the buildup, but a commanding qualifying performance, nearly a second ahead of the field, was followed by an assured race victory. Russell had to fight off Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in the opening stages, but once he settled into the optimal energy deployment strategy, he pulled clear by up to 0.4 seconds per lap. By the final third, the Mercedes drivers eased off, holding a 15-second gap to Leclerc, suggesting they have even more in reserve.
Ferrari showed strong pace, with Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton making blistering starts. However, a costly failure to react quickly to a virtual safety car cost them a chance to challenge Mercedes. Leclerc finished third and Hamilton fourth, but the Scuderia believe they can close the gap as the development battle intensifies. With McLaren and Red Bull seemingly off the pace, Ferrari are well placed to focus solely on chasing down Mercedes.
The new regulations came under fire from drivers, particularly regarding energy management. Lando Norris described the cars as the worst he had driven and warned of a potential major accident. Max Verstappen criticised the need for lift-and-coast techniques, while Charles Leclerc compared the overtaking to 'the mushroom in Mario Kart'. Although F1 trumpeted 120 passes compared with 45 last year, many drivers felt the moves were artificial, relying on a push-to-pass system that left them vulnerable to being repassed immediately.
Rookie Arvid Lindblad impressed on his debut for Racing Bulls, qualifying ninth and climbing as high as third in the opening laps. The 18-year-old Briton refused to yield to Verstappen, eventually finishing eighth and scoring four points. Oliver Bearman also shone for Haas, finishing seventh and confirming the team's midfield potential.
Aston Martin endured a disastrous start to the season, with their struggles evident from pre-season testing. The team's woes were a talking point in the paddock, though no one took pleasure in their difficulties.
