# Driver Ratings from Australian GP: Russell Leads, Piastri Misses Out **URL:** \ **Category:** F1 Features\ **Created:** [March 13, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://intoguide.com/t/driver-ratings-from-australian-gp-russell-leads-piastri-misses-out/487 "2026-03-13T16:02:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wasabi](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/intoguide.com/wasabi/32/646_2.png) [@wasabi](https://intoguide.com/u/wasabi)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://intoguide.com/t/driver-ratings-from-australian-gp-russell-leads-piastri-misses-out/487/1 "2026-03-13T16:02:30Z")
![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/uploads/intoguide1/original/1X/d9ed5ec7604421bf52a3d3b31247dcc5ef4c5e53.jpeg) **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. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/uploads/intoguide1/original/1X/518d7525828a14c2e5078e408badce19c750d5ca.jpeg) ## 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. * * * For more Australian GP insights, join **[PlanetF1.com](http://PlanetF1.com)’s WhatsApp channel** for exclusive paddock updates or subscribe to the **PlanetF1 YouTube channel** for behind-the-scenes analysis, features, and expert commentary.