Lewis Hamilton secured his first victory of the 2026 season at the Barcelona Grand Prix, utilizing a three-stop strategy and a well-timed safety car to overcome Mercedes' George Russell in a race defined by high tyre degradation and late-race mechanical drama.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured his maiden Formula 1 victory in a chaotic Chinese Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes 1-2 finish. The race was defined by a historic pre-race grid shortage due to technical failures, a mid-race safety car that split strategies, and a dominant tyre-management performance by Antonelli. Max Verstappen retired following a power unit failure after a lengthy defensive battle with Oliver Bearman.
George Russell claimed a brilliant victory for Mercedes in the 2026 season opener at Albert Park, leading home teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli for a sensational 1-2 finish. The race was defined by Mercedes' masterful use of a Safety Car period to execute a decisive tyre strategy, ultimately outmaneuvering Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who dominated early on. Historic debuts for Antonelli and other rookies, along with Max Verstappen's impressive recovery drive from P20 to P6, marked an exciting start to the new season.