Mercedes start favourites for the 2026 season opener in Australia, after polesitter George Russell and team mate Kimi Antonelli dominated Qualifying – despite the latter having destroyed his car in a heavy crash at the end of final practice – giving us an all-Silver Arrows front row at Albert Park.
Isack Hadjar commenced his Red Bull Racing career in style, qualifying a personal-best P3 ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The Frenchman’s team mate Max Verstappen was less fortunate, crashing out in Q1 without a time on the board. The four-time champ lines up on row 10.
Reigning champions McLaren have local favourite Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris on row three, then come Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson. Lawson’s new team mate Arvid Lindblad – 2026’s sole rookie – starts P9 , while Audi made Q3 at the first time of asking thanks to Gabriel Bortoleto.
The other new team on the grid, Cadillac, have Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas in P18 and 19, ahead of Verstappen, Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, that final trio having been granted permission to start by race stewards after failing to set a Qualifying time.
The 2026 Australian Grand Prix starts at 1500 local time. Be sure to join our live coverage from 1400 here.
