Race Winner and Mercedes Dominance
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George Russell claimed victory, leading a Mercedes 1-2 with Kimi Antonelli in second.
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Russell took the lead on Lap 28 and never looked back, securing his sixth career win.
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Despite Ferrari’s strong start, Mercedes proved the team to beat in the first race of the season.
Ferrari’s Start vs. VSC Misstep
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Charles Leclerc launched from P4 to lead into Turn 1, with Lewis Hamilton also gaining multiple positions.
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Ferrari opted not to pit during the Virtual Safety Car, losing the chance to minimise time loss, leaving them unable to challenge Mercedes for the win.
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Leclerc finished P3, Hamilton P4, both acknowledging Mercedes’ pace advantage.
Oscar Piastri’s Pre-Race Crash
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Home driver Oscar Piastri crashed on the pre-race lap, damaging his McLaren MCL40 beyond repair.
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Piastri attributed the incident to a power surge delivering an extra 100kW, causing him to lose control.
Max Verstappen’s Recovery and Criticism
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Max Verstappen started 20th after a Q1 crash but fought back to finish P6, impressing with his recovery drive.
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Verstappen remained critical of the new F1 2026 regulations, saying the sport “isn’t as it should be”, citing energy management and car balance concerns.
Aston Martin’s Struggles
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Both Aston Martin cars retired, marking a disastrous day for the British team.
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Fernando Alonso briefly returned to the track after a garage stint to gather data but ultimately retired.
Complaints on the New Rules
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Carlos Sainz called the Straight Line Mode “dangerous” and a “plaster” over energy deployment issues.
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Other drivers, including Lando Norris and Verstappen, expressed frustration with the artificial speed differences and race unpredictability caused by new power unit rules.