Australian GP Driver Ratings: 2026 Season Opener
The 2026 Australian Grand Prix delivered an exciting start to Formula 1’s new era, with plenty of action up and down the field. Mercedes secured a 1-2 finish at Albert Park, while Charles Leclerc completed the podium. Here’s how we rated each of the standout drivers.
George Russell – 8.5/10
Russell was imperious all weekend, taking pole by a comfortable margin and staying composed after losing the lead early on. He executed a lengthy one-stop strategy perfectly, holding off Ferrari’s late charge, and engaged in a feisty battle with Leclerc for the lead.
Kimi Antonelli – 8/10
The young Italian recovered strongly after a poor start, which dropped him toward the lower end of the top 10. He kept his composure throughout the race and climbed back to P2, rarely challenged once he regained momentum.
Charles Leclerc – 8/10
Leclerc confirmed pre-season testing impressions with a rocket-like getaway at the start. He engaged in a hard-fought battle with Russell for the lead. While a different pit strategy may have given him a late-race chance to win, Leclerc himself remained realistic—but his launch showcased Ferrari’s impressive start performance.
Australian GP 2026: Driver Ratings – Albert Park
The season-opening Australian Grand Prix delivered drama, strategy, and standout performances as the new generation of F1 cars made their debut. Mercedes secured a dominant 1-2, with George Russell leading teammate Kimi Antonelli, while Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium. Here’s how each driver fared.
George Russell – 8.5/10
Imperious throughout the weekend, Russell took pole by a healthy margin and kept his composure after losing the lead early. He executed a one-stop strategy brilliantly, held off Ferrari’s late charge, and engaged in a tense battle with Leclerc for the lead.
Kimi Antonelli – 8/10
A strong recovery drive from the young Italian. Despite a poor start that dropped him toward the bottom of the top 10, Antonelli climbed back to P2, maintaining composure and rarely being challenged.
Charles Leclerc – 8/10
Leclerc confirmed pre-season testing whispers with a rocket-like getaway. He fought hard with Russell for the lead, but Ferrari’s pit strategy limited late-race options. Still, his launch highlighted Ferrari’s impressive start performance.
Lewis Hamilton – 7.5/10
Qualified just a tenth off Leclerc, Hamilton was initially sandwiched between the McLarens before Piastri’s pre-race crash opened space. He ran wide at Turn 1 but fought back to challenge Leclerc late in the race, questioning Ferrari’s VSC pit strategy. A solid effort overall.
Lando Norris – 7/10
Made the most of his third-row starting position. A second stop on the medium tyre allowed him to fend off Verstappen, but with Mercedes and Ferrari further up, there was little more he could do.
Max Verstappen – 7/10
Starting from P20 after a rear-axle issue, Verstappen fought through the field to finish sixth, earning the fan-voted Driver of the Day. A strong recovery effort, though many overtakes were expected given the circumstances.
Ollie Bearman – 7.5/10
Gained five places from his grid slot. A tense battle with debutant Lindblad saw Bearman finally secure the position, earning valuable points early in the season.
Arvid Lindblad – 8/10
An impressive debut, finishing in the points after a strong start. Lindblad challenged veterans like Norris, Hamilton, and Verstappen, and used clever battery deployment timing to surge through T2–T3. He becomes the third-youngest points scorer in F1 history.
Gabriel Bortoleto – 7.5/10
Converted a top-10 start into points for Audi’s first weekend under the Sauber banner. His recovery drive was steady and well-earned.
Pierre Gasly – 7/10
A strong starter with a back-and-forth battle against Esteban Ocon for the final point, ultimately emerging ahead.
Esteban Ocon – 6/10
Fought to break into the points, but finished narrowly outside the top 10 after a spirited duel with Gasly.
Alex Albon – 6/10
Led the lower midfield for Williams, finishing ahead of teammate Bottas. A tough race due to limited pace.
Liam Lawson – 5/10
Strong qualifying undone by a poor start, losing many positions. Recovery efforts were limited.
Franco Colapinto – 5.5/10
Recovered from a pre-race penalty and a tricky start to finish two laps down. Showed excellent reflexes avoiding Lawson on the grid.
Carlos Sainz – 5/10
Faced a tough day, using the race primarily for data gathering. Mid-race tyre tests offered some insight but little in terms of points.
Sergio Perez – 6/10
Finished three laps down with limited options, but defended his position aggressively against Lawson. A useful day for Cadillac’s data collection.
Lance Stroll – 6/10
Classified despite going off track. Focused on gathering laps and data rather than points.
Fernando Alonso – 6.5/10
Gained seven places on the first lap, showing his trademark race craft, though overall pace limited further progress.
Valtteri Bottas – 6/10
Tasked with reaching the finish for Cadillac, stopped early due to strategic reasons. Minimal impact on the results.
Isack Hadjar – 7/10
Challenged at the front early and bounced around the top six before an engine issue forced retirement.
Oscar Piastri – DNS
Held a solid qualifying, but a recon lap crash prevented him from starting. Took responsibility, but a frustrating day.
Nico Hulkenberg – DNS
Promising start for Audi ended before the lights went out due to a grid issue. Encouraging signs for future races.
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