Russell won the season-opener from pole ahead of Kimi Antonelli, with new cars and 2026 racing debuted in Melbourne.

Red Bull Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen emerged unscathed from his accident in Australian Grand Prix qualifying, which an X-ray performed on his hands confirmed. Verstappen was on his very first flying lap in qualifying when the RB22’s rear wheels locked as he braked ahead of Turn 1,

Max Verstappen explains why he was sent to the medical centre after crashing during Q1 of Australian Grand Prix qualifying in Melbourne.

That accident became the inspiration for the 2025 Brad Pitt blockbuster film, F1. Now, almost 36 years on from that life-changing moment during qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, Martin Donnelly is headed back to the track he was meant to race on next, "looking for some closure".

George Russell will start the first race of the 2026 Formula 1 season on pole position, after an impressive qualifying performance in Melbourne. The Mercedes driver pipped his teammate Kimi Antonelli by 0.

McLaren’s Lando Norris has warned that the new F1 regulations could lead to a ‘big accident’. The changes came in for the opening race in Melbourne this weekend, with Mercedes’ George Russell coming out on top.

Formula 1’s new era got off to an exciting start with an action-packed season opening Australian Grand Prix. After weeks of mind games, politics and conjecture, we finally got to witness the first taste of the new era of F1 as the 2026 season got underway in Australia.