Which drivers finished on the podium at the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix?

George Russell (Mercedes) won the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, with teammate Kimi Antonelli finishing second and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) taking third place on the podium.

The final classification with penalties confirmed these positions, with Russell completing the 58-lap race in 1:23:06.801, Antonelli 2.974 seconds behind, and Leclerc 15.519 seconds back. Mercedes used strategic pit stops and tire management to secure their first 1-2 finish in a season opener since 2019. Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, just behind Leclerc, in a closely fought race that featured strategic safety car periods and tire strategies.

George Russell secured his first victory of the season.
Kimi Antonelli achieved his best F1 result in second place.
Charles Leclerc ended the race third for Ferrari.
Mercedes dominated with a well-executed race strategy.
The race set the tone for a competitive season ahead.

This result highlights Mercedes' strong start and the ongoing competitiveness across teams this season.

References: https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/1078165; https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/48099004; https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/6-winners-and-5-losers-from-the-australian-grand-prix.

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