Russell claims victory ahead of Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli
Home town hopeful Oscar Piastri crashes out in formation lap
George Russell has won the Australian Grand Prix with a commanding drive from the front of the grid and with his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli in second, securing a strong one-two for the team.
He was ultimately in complete control in the first round of the new Formula One season in Melbourne on Sunday but only after Ferrari had brought a thrilling and feisty scrap to the opening stages, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing third and fourth for the Scuderia.
Defending world champion Lando Norris was fifth for McLaren but there was absolute heartbreak however for the local fans as his teammate, the Melbourne-born Oscar Piastri, crashed out on the formation lap to the grid. The McLaren driver clipped the kerb at turn four and was taken by surprise in how much power he had when hitting the throttle and was spun out into the wall, to a collective gasp of despair across Albert Park – an incident for which he held his hands up as part of the learning curve in how these new cars behave.
