In a first exciting qualifying session of the 2026 F1 Australian Grand Prix, George Russell secured pole in Melbourne, but Max Verstappen crashed.
The Mercedes team put in an impressive performance by closing out the entire front row of the grid with George Russell and Kim Antonelli.
Russell took first place, finishing significantly ahead of his new teammate, Kim Antonelli (and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjer.
Unfortunately, Max Verstappen crashed on his very first lap, preventing head-on competition with Russell and preventing Mercedes’ superiority from being challenged.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took 4th place and Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finished 5th and 6th. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton followed in 7th place.
Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawdon finished 8th, just ahead of his rookie teammate Arvind Lindblad.
Here are the full F1 2026 Australian GP qualifying results:
- Mercedes’ George Russell secures position 1
- Kim Antonelli from team Mercedes: Position 2
- Isack Hadjar from Red Bull: Position 3
- Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc: Position 4
- Oscar Piastri from team McLaren: Position 5
- Lando Noris of McLaren: Position 6
- Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari: 7
- Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls: 8
- Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls: 9
- Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi: 10
- Nico Hulkenberg, Audi: 11
- Oliver Bearman, Haas: 12
- Esteban Ocon, Haas: 13
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine-Mercedes: 14
- Alex Albon, Williams-Mercedes: 15
- Franco Colapinto, Alpine-Mercedes: 16
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin: 17
- Sergio Perez, Cadillac Ferrari: 18
- Valtteri Boltas, Cadillac Ferrari: 19
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull: 20
- Carlos Sainz, Williams-Mercedes: 21
