Australian GP Qualifying: George Russell on pole as Mercedes lock front row, Max Verstappen crashes
F1 NewsSaturday, 07 March 2026 at 07:20
George Russell confirmed all the hype around him and took pole for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix as teammate Kimi Antonelli managed to be second fastest delivering a one-two for Mercedes.
Is it the 2014 Formula 1 season all over again? Well it remains to be seen because the advantage Mercedes now holds over its rivals is quite considerable.
Russell's pole lap was a 1:18.518 which was over three second slower than the one Lando Norris posted when he took pole in Melbourne in 2025.
Regardless, Russell was over two tenths of a second clear of Antonelli who defied the odds to line up second on the grid.
Antonelli crashed in FP3 which meant Qualifying started with Mercedes mechanics still working on his car and barely made Q1 while being helped by the Red Flag brought out by Max Verstappen crashing.
Yes, Verstappen spun at Turn 1 on his first timed lap as it seemed that the MGU-K locked his rear axle, delivering a violent snap that even the Dutchman with his immense talent behind the wheel could not catch.
It was a pity not to see the four-time F1 Champion fighting the Mercedes in Q3 as it appeared Red Bull had the second-best car proven by Isack Hadjar qualifying third on his debut with the team.
However, the Frenchman was almost eighth tenths off the pace in the RB22 which signified the advantage Mercedes currently hold.
Then, in fourth place, came Charles Leclerc who was over eight tenths off the pace of Russell and less than a tenth clear of Piastri who was fifth for McLaren.
Reigning F1 Champion Lando Norris did not have the best of sessions and was sixth fastest with Lewis Hamilton seventh almost one second off the pace.
Arvid Lindblad delivered a superb performance on his F1 debut, the rookie qualifying eighth ahead of his teammate Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top ten.
Bortoleto did not take part in Q3 as his Audi break down on his return to the pits at the end of Q2, but Nico Hulkenberg in 11th makes for a decent result for the German marque on debut.
Cadillac on the other hand did not make it out of Q1 with Sergio Perez 18th and Valtteri Bottas 19th. They were even beaten by the troubled Aston Martin with Fernando Alonso 17th fastest while Lance Stroll did not take part in Qualifying.
What the top three said
"It was a great day," Russell said. "We knew there was a lot of potential in the car, but until we get to this first Saturday of the season, you never know, but it really came alive this afternoon.
"As the track temperature cooled, we tend to favour those conditions," he added. "Also, really happy to have Kimi here because it has been such a hard job from the team to deliver this car. They did an amazing job in the garage as well.
"It's not easy to drive. I'm excited for the race tomorrow and it could bring some quite exciting racing. Hopefully we can deliver a good race," Russell concluded.
As for Antonelli, he heaped praise on his team for repairing his car on time. He said: "It has been a very, very stressful day.
"In FP3 I went into the wall but the mechanics today were the heroes to put the car back on track. We couldn't even set up the car, we just went out, and just managed to put it on the front row.
"Really happy with that," he maintained. "It was not easy, I had to dig deep, but need to have a clean weekend next time because definitely compromised qualifying a little bit. But we have a race tomorrow to look ahead [to] and a good result is possible."
As for Hadjar, he commented: "It was a very smooth qualifying. The run-up to qualifying the whole weekend was a bit difficult.
"We were not in a position to fight for the top three. I feel like Ferrari and McLaren were clear of myself but we built up to it the whole qualifying and it was a very good last lap."
As for his chances to take the fight to Mercedes, he said: "The only thing I can do is take a better start. But they are too fast at the moment.
"I want to keep my position. A second podium would be good," the Frenchman concluded.
Q1: Verstappen crashes!
Track temperatures increase a bit from FP3 to qualifying and were 38 degrees Celsius when Q1 started. Air temperature was 21 degrees.
With an addition team, six drivers will be eliminated in Q1 and Q2 which leaves ten to fight for position in Q3.
Mercedes were still racing against the clock trying to get Antonelli's car together after his crash in the final practice.
Putting in the hard work at Mercedes 🔧
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 7, 2026
The team has been working flat out to try and repair Kimi Antonelli's car for Qualifying#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/OWU0cUkryb
Hulkenberg led the pack out on track as the green light for Q1 was given. He started a lap but as it turned out, the German was simply harvesting energy for the battery.
The midfield teams started posting their times as the big boys followed with Piastri going top with Hamilton second, the Briton on the Medium.
Then Bortoleto topped with Norris down in sixth as Russell started his lap. Leclerc followed on Mediums like his teammate.
Slidin' Lando! 💨
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 7, 2026
The McLaren driver slots in a 1:21.232 as his first time of the session #F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/ZldVnfBm4O
Russell went fastest with Leclerc fourth as Hadjar was also on his lap and went second. Verstappen was yet to post a time.
With less than ten minutes remaining in Q1, Verstappen joined the action as Norris, Hamilton, and Piastri went for another lap.
But then everything came to a halt, as Verstappen lost control of his RB22 and ended up beached in the gravel at Turn 1.
Replay showed his car snapping violently, as if he pulled the handbrake, and ended up in the gravel. Game over for the Dutchman.
"The car just locked on the rear axle. Fantastic," Verstappen radioed. He walked away and seemed that his hands were hurting.
Max Verstappen is OUT of Qualifying, with no time set! 😳
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 7, 2026
This is the moment where the Red Bull driver spins into the wall at Turn 1 👇#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/M2XKoapEMl
The Red Flag came out and time was stopped at a little over ten minutes which gave Mercedes time to finish Antonelli's car. Williams were also working on Sainz's car after the issue in practice.
The order at that time: Russell - Leclerc - Piastri - Lindblad - Hamilton - Hadjar - Norris - Bortoleto - Hulkenberg - Ollie Bearman - Esteban Ocon - Lawson - Pierre Gasly - Albon - Franco Colapinto - Alonso.
In the drop zone: Perez - Bottas - Verstappen - Antonelli - Sainz - Stroll.
The session resumed with seven minutes as Antonelli joined the action, but not Sainz.
We're back to Green Flag conditions for the final few minutes of Q1... 🟢
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 7, 2026
And Kimi Antonelli's car has joined the queue in the pit lane! 🤩#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/LfLyZ4oLq9
The drivers went on with their final attempts to make Q2, and with Q1 over, Russell led the way with a 1:19.507, 0.157s ahead of Piastri is second as Hamilton was third, 0.304s slower than his former teammate, but on Mediums.
Antonelli rewarded his team's efforts and made the cut with the rest of the top 16: Norris - Hadjar - Antonelli - Leclerc - Lindblad - Lawson - Bortoleto - Ocon - Hulkenberg - Albon - Gasly - Colapinto - Bearman.
The Italian radioed: "Thank you guys, you're the best! Oh my God. Thank you."
Out of Qualifying were led by Alonso who was 17th ahead of Perez in 18th as Bottas was 19th as Verstappen was 20th.
Sainz and Stroll were 21st and 22nd.
Q2: Disappointment for Bortoleto
The remaining 16 drivers quickly made their way out on track with Russell, Antonelli, and Hadjar taking their time.
Ferrari now bolted on the Soft tyres after doing a decent job making it out of Q1 on the Mediums.
Leclerc went fastest with Albon, Ocon, Lawson, Lindblad, Gasly, Bearman, Norris, and Colapinto behind him.
But then Antonelli went to the top as Russell followed and went over six tenths ahead of his teammate while Norris improved to third.
Mercedes showing what they can do with seven minutes left on the Q2 clock! 👀
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 7, 2026
P1 - Russell ➡️ 1:18.934
P2 - Antonelli ➡️ +0.670#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/ryKkSXKh0F
Hadjar then went third fastest as Hamilton was on a lap but then bailed and pitted as Piastri went second fastest.
Order after first attempts: Russell - Piastri - Antonelli - Hadjar - Norris - Lindblad - Leclerc - Lawson - Bortoleto - Ocon.
With less than six minutes remaining in Q2, the second and final round of runs began as drivers set out to identify the top ten contenders.
With Q2 over, Russell was fastest again with a lap time of 1:18.934, 0.423s faster than Leclerc as Antonelli 0.501s behind in third.
The rest of the top ten: Piastri - Hadjar - Norris - Hamilton - Lindblad - Lawson - Bortoleto.
However, Bortoleto seemed to have an issue on his way back to the pits as his R26 seemed to stop in the entrance to the pitlane.
The Brazilian had to be pushed by the marshals which meant he would not take part in Q3 as he couldn't make the pits under his own power. Where he stopped meant his mechanics were not allowed to collect the car.
First to lose out in Q2 was Hulkenberg who was 11th fastest beaten by his teammate by less than a tenth.
Bearman was 12th fastest in the Haas as Ocon was 13th in the sister car with Gasly in 14th while Albon and Colapinto were 15th and 16th.
Q3: Nicely done George!
Bortoleto breaking down meant the first Q3 of 2026 will be contested by nine drivers only who quickly made their way out on track. Hadjar waited a bit.
But then Mercedes forgot to remove the cooling fans from the W17 of Antonelli which brought out the Red Flag with almost ten minutes remaining.
Piastri was the only one with a lap time but in the 1:30s so not representative.
One fan fell in the gravel trap while the other was on the track and was run over by Norris.
🔴 RED FLAG 🔴
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 7, 2026
Lando Norris collides with a cooling device on the track, which seemingly fell from Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes
There's debris to be cleared up at Turn 2#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/99zKjfi3Zh
Antonelli and Mercedes will be investigated after the session for releasing the car in an unsafe condition.
McLaren were working on taping the endplate of the front wing of Norris' car after getting damaged from the cooling fan incident.
Antonelli led the way out on track as the final shootout was underway but the 19-year-old ran through the gravel at Turn 3.
Russell went fastest and Hadjar went second fastest as Piastri was third with Leclerc dropping Piastri to fourth.
Hamilton then came in at fifth while Norris dropped Hadjar to third and took second fastest.
With less the three minutes remaining, the final rounds of laps were on with Antonelli starting his first timed lap in Q3.
Antonelli went fastest but Russell was on a fast one behind him and duly beating him to the top.
The Piastri came in third but was dropped by Leclerc who took that position and was then dropped by Hadjar who then took third.
So it was Russell on pole with Antonelli second fastest as Hadjar was third.
The rest of the top ten: Leclerc - Piastri - Norris - Hamilton - Lawson - Lindblad - Bortoleto.
Australian GP Qualifying Provisional Classification
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