The English driver, George Russell, showed the superiority of the Mercedes at the start of the Formula 1 season by taking pole position at the Australian circuit – the first Grand Prix of 2026 – with a time of 1:18.518, with his teammate, Italian Kimi Antonelli, completing the front row, who qualified 293 thousandths of a second behind the Briton.
Spaniards Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Carlos Sainz (Williams), with problems in their cars, will start from 17th and penultimate place, respectively.
Isack Hadjar surprises to start third in Australia
Frenchman Isack Hadjar, one of the main protagonists of the day, will start today at Albert Park in third position with his Red Bull.
This after qualifying 785 thousandths of a second behind George Russell, ahead of both the Ferrari of Monegasque Charles Leclerc (+809) and the McLaren of Oscar Piastri (+862).
While the reigning world champion, Englishman Lando Norris (McLaren) finished sixth, almost a second behind his compatriot (+957).
Even with the aftermath of the fan incident on Antonelli’s car, which affected his left front wheel in Q3.
British driver Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) will also start seventh on the grid (+960), ahead of New Zealander Liam Lawson (+1.476), which showed the good sensations of the Racing Bulls at the start of the campaign (Filed as: George Russell Formula 1).
Checo Perez ends up eliminated
For his part, Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto was another of the positive notes of the day by getting into Q3 with his Audi.
Although it was a somewhat bittersweet qualifying for him, as problems with his car prevented him from taking the start in the last session, thus remaining anchored in tenth place.
At the same time, Argentina’s Franco Colapinto (Alpine) managed to reach 16th position after sneaking into Q2 in the final moments at the expense of Fernando Alonso (17th), who came close to a ‘mini-miracle’ with his fragile Aston Martin.
While Mexico’s Checo Pérez (Cadillac) was eliminated in Q1 and Carlos Sainz could not even go out on track.
This after the problems suffered in the third free practice session, so he will be second to last on tomorrow’s grid.
In Q1, Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto set the reference time with his Audi in the first minutes of the session (1:20.495).
Until Britain’s George Russell delivered the timely blow of authority shortly thereafter with the first lap under 1:20 in qualifying (1.19.840) – (Filed under: George Russell Formula 1).
Verstappen crash shakes up qualifying
Even so, the times were still relatively slow compared to the times recorded in the last free practice session.
The track was still relatively cold and the tires were still feeling it at this first contact.
However, the first surprise came with just over seven minutes left in the first half.
Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) ended up hitting the wall at Albert Park’s Turn 1 in an apparent rear wheel lock-up.
As a result, the four-time world champion had to retire at the first gear while the session was stopped with the corresponding red flag.
At the restart, two more drivers were confirmed to have stayed in the pit without even trying their luck.
Such was the case of Carlos Sainz’s Williams – electrical problems – and Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin.
With that situation, the Spaniard Alonso Martin (Aston Martin) looked like he could surprisingly sneak into Q2.
Despite the usual list of problems listed with the power unit of its Honda engine (Filed under: George Russell Formula 1).
Colapinto eliminates Alonso
Russell set a great time
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However, in agonizing fashion, the Argentinean Colapinto (Alpine) saved the day in the final moments, leaving the Asturian out of the next session.
The Cadillacs of Mexico’s Perez and Finland’s Valtteri Bottas were also eliminated.
For his part, Hamilton feinted to score the best lap of Q1 (1:19.811) until Russell took the prize away from him on his final lap (1:19.507).
In the second part of the qualifying session, the Mercedes gave a new turn of the screw and it was George Russell himself who was the first to go under the 1:19 barrier (1:18.934).
He put the McLaren and Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull in the lead.
On the other hand, the Racing Bulls of Englishman Arvid Linblad and New Zealander Liam Lawson surprised by consolidating themselves as reliable and solvent cars for Q3.
As did Bortoleto with his Audi, who, however, could hardly celebrate his feat.
His car stalled at the pit lane entrance, leaving him in tenth position and unable to fight in the final run (Filed under: George Russell Formula 1).
Russell dominates an eventful Q3
Meanwhile, German Nico Hulkenberg (Audi), Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon (Haas F1), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Alex Albon (Williams) and Franco Colapinto (Alpine) were eliminated in this round.
Q3 got off to a bumpy start.
This after a part of Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes became detached from its ventilation system.
Subsequently, it would affect the left front tire of Lando Norris’ McLaren, causing a new red flag.
With all this, George Russell was once again setting the standard in Formula 1.
Although he started with a worse time than in the previous session (1:19.084), waiting for an improvement in the second attempt.
Meanwhile, Norris and Hadjar were tentatively peeking at the front of the field.
The Italian Antonelli snatched the first place with a 1:18.811 but it was a short-lived mirage.
As the Norfolk native returned to the charge shortly thereafter with a sidereal 1:18.518.
Among the rest of the mortals, the Frenchman Hadjar slipped into third place and Leclerc made the most of his fourth place in front of the McLaren’s discreet finish in fifth (Piastri) and sixth place (Norris) – (Filed under: George Russell Formula 1).
With information from EFE
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