\n<\/p>\n
\t\t<\/p>\n George Russell<\/strong><\/a> has clinched the first F1<\/strong><\/a> win of the 2026 season!<\/p>\n The 28-year-old Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team driver converted his pole position to a win on Sunday (March 8) in the 2026 Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix<\/strong><\/a><\/em> in Melbourne, Australia. <\/p>\n Completing the podium was George<\/strong>\u2018s teammate Kimi Antonelli<\/strong><\/a> in second for a double podium to kick off the season, as well as Scuderia Ferrari HP\u2019s Charles Leclerc<\/strong><\/a>, who just got married<\/a>, in third. <\/p>\n This year kicks off a new regulation era in Formula 1, along with an 11th team on the grid for the first time in years. <\/p>\n Unfortunately, five drivers did not start or finish the Australian Grand Prix<\/em>. McLaren\u2019s Oscar Piastri<\/strong><\/a> and Audi\u2019s Nico Hulkenberg<\/strong><\/a> did not make it to the start line, while Aston Martin\u2019s Fernando Alonso<\/strong><\/a>, Cadillac\u2019s Valtteri Bottas<\/strong><\/a> and Red Bull Racing\u2019s Isack Hadjar<\/strong><\/a> did not finish. <\/p>\n The next F1 race is scheduled for next weekend \u2013 the season continues with the 2026 Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix<\/em> at Shanghai International Circuit in China. First practice takes place on Friday (March 13) and the race will begin Sunday, March 15th at 3am ET.<\/p>\n Browse through the gallery to see more photos from the first Formula 1 podium of 2026\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n