Russell dominant in season opener

By Razeen Gutta

George Russell claimed a commanding victory in the Australian Grand Prix, leading Mercedes to their first win at Albert Park since 2019.

The British driver profited from an early tyre change, finishing nearly three seconds ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc over 15 seconds behind in third.

Russell engaged in a thrilling early duel with Leclerc, swapping the lead seven times in the opening nine laps.

However, Mercedes’ strategy ultimately paid off, with Russell and Antonelli riding their hard tyres to the finish.

The win marks a strong start to the season for Mercedes, while Ferrari’s tyre strategy failed to pay off.

“I like this car, I like this engine, great job everybody. It’s been a long time it’s been a long time coming to have this car beneath us,” Russell said over the team radio.

Max Verstappen finished sixth for Red Bull, recovering from a 20th position start following a difficult qualifying session.

McLaren’s home hero Oscar Piastri was forced to withdraw before the start, while his teammate Lando Norris finished in fifth.

Pictured above: Charles Leclerc and George Russell

Source: @f1