Mercedes wins at Albert Park, first victory of new F1 era

Mercedes claimed the race win at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park on Sunday — the first victory of Formula 1’s new technical era — and took an early lead in the championship. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc produced a lightning-fast start and mounted a sustained challenge during the race, while reports noted fans were affected by the absence of a crowd favorite who was deprived of participation before the race began.

Qualifying on Saturday set the tone when George Russell stormed to a dominant pole position, producing a Mercedes front-row lockout and giving the team momentum and a tactical advantage heading into the race. Practice sessions were more mixed: three different drivers topped Practice 1, 2 and 3, underscoring an unpredictable field, and observers said Mercedes may be better adapted to the new regulations while practice variability left room for rivals to close the gap on race day.

Photographic galleries and pictorial recaps captured on-track battles, qualifying drama and paddock activity, and a Supercars morning race opened the program and energized the crowd. The event awarded the inaugural trophies of the 2026 championship, with images emphasizing both the significance of the new technical regulations and a strong spectator turnout as the paddock formally moved into the 2026 season.