George Russell overcame a chaotic start to Formula One’s new era to win the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and lay down a significant maker in his world championship bid. World champion Lando Norris crossed the line in fifth, a sobering 51 seconds behind Russell. In the other Ferrari, Hamilton also propelled himself up the order as he launched three places to third. On the second lap, Russell flew past Leclerc and, in the old regulations, that might have been that. So on the next lap, Leclerc was back ahead of Russell and that is how it stayed until the eighth lap.

Source: Irish Examiner March 08, 2026 10:06 UTC