Melbourne Kicks Off the 2026 F1 Season

The 2026 Formula 1 season began in Melbourne with a chaotic and action-packed race. Strategy decisions, technical issues, and intense battles shaped an exciting start to the new season.

(Image credits tom grandprix.com.au)

The new Formula 1 season kicked off today with the first Grand Prix of the 2026 season in Melbourne, Australia. The new FIA regulations regarding the cars promise a dynamic, entertaining season full of expectations. On track, some drivers appeared luckier than others when it came to handling their cars.

A Difficult Weekend for McLaren: Piastri Misses His Home Race

McLaren had a difficult start to the weekend. Australian driver Oscar Piastri lost the chance to take part in the race after his car suffered a failure on the outlap, preventing him from even reaching the starting grid and forcing him to miss his home race. Zak Brown stated that the issue may have been caused by a spike in battery power. Meanwhile, his teammate Lando Norris remained consistent throughout the race and managed to finish one position higher than he started, partly due to Piastri’s absence.

(Image credits to skysports.com)

Chaotic Start and Early Battle Between Russell and Leclerc

The start was very surprising and chaotic, as is often the case in many races. Russell made a rather slow start from pole position, which allowed Leclerc, who had started from fourth place, to overtake him. The two engaged in a very tight battle at the beginning of the race, with several overtakes, but Leclerc managed to hold his position until lap 25. Based on the practice sessions and qualifying, Mercedes appears to have built the most competitive car, as both of their drivers started the race from the front row. Kimi Antonelli managed to recover after losing positions at the start and finished the race on the podium in second place.

Ferrari Lose Their Advantage After Controversial Strategy Call

Ferrari’s car also looked promising during testing sessions, but it seems that the team’s biggest issue lies in strategy. After Isack Hadjar’s car, now driving for Red Bull, stopped on track after smoke began coming out of it, a virtual safety car was deployed. Both Mercedes cars pitted, while Ferrari decided not to change the tyres for either of their drivers. The strategy turned out to be mediocre, as Leclerc, who had been leading the race, and Hamilton, who had been in third place, finished third and fourth respectively. The British driver Hamilton expressed his frustration over the team radio, questioning the strategy: “At least one of us should have come in.” This mistake cost Ferrari the chance of securing not just one, but two podium finishes.

(Image credits to @scuderiaferrari on Instagram)

Multiple Retirements in Melbourne as Only 16 Drivers Finish

Out of twenty-two drivers, only sixteen managed to finish the race in Melbourne today. Like Piastri, Nico Hülkenberg was unable to start the race. He was scheduled to start from the pit lane due to electrical communication issues but never managed to enter the track. Fernando Alonso was also called into the pits on lap 14 due to technical problems. However, the team used the situation as an extended test session, and he returned to the track on lap 25, though not until the end of the race. Valtteri Bottas was also unlucky. His car stopped near the pit lane on lap 18, forcing him to retire. Cadillac did not have a particularly glorious debut in the new season, as their last remaining driver on track, Sergio Pérez, finished last and failed to score any points.

9Image credits to the-race.com)

Fierce Midfield Battle for the Final Points

During the second half of the race, a fierce battle took place in the midfield for a place in the top ten. Ocon and Gasly seemed to be fighting for the final point on lap 31 after making slight contact on lap 21, but Bortoleto benefited from their battle and managed to climb up to ninth place. Verstappen also had a very successful weekend. Despite starting from twentieth place following an incident in qualifying, Max Verstappen showed determination and perseverance, weaving through the field and ultimately finishing sixth in the final standings.

Article written by Iuliana Mihai © Iuliana Mihai 2026