MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA) (ITALPRESS) – George Russell is the first pole of the 2026 Formula 1. season The British dominates the qualifications of the Gp of Australia, on the circuit of Albert Park, and stops the chronometer on the time of 1’18′′′518. “We knew the machine was great, but we weren’t sure of our potential. The car started in the afternoon. It’s not easy to drive, but I’m confident for tomorrow’s race, even if we don’t know what will happen,” says Russell. Complete the double Mercedes Andrea Kimi Antonelli (+0′′′293), went to wall in FP3 and put on track thanks to an extraordinary work of the team. “It was a stressful day, but the mechanics were heroes who sent me back on the track. I did not have time to prepare the tour in Q3, it was not easy and hope to have a weekend clean next time”, the words of the 19-year-old Romagna. Rather net superiority of the Silver Brakes, which do the vacuum until you find Isack Hadjar in third position at 0′′′785 delay. The French saves the Red Bull Saturday after Max Verstappen’s chromorous elimination in Q1, finished against barriers after a warhead in curve 1.
Complete the second row Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), fourth to 0′′′809 and author of a growing qualification. “I had said we had five or six tenths of delay from Mercedes and eventually it was eight. I’m disappointed because the gap is important. We had some problems in energy management, but it is part of the path with these new machines. I was hoping in third place and tomorrow we will try to get it,” says the Monegasco. The opposite path for Lewis Hamilton, a strong start on Friday and Q1 and Q2 but then only seventh at 0′′′′960. “I expected more. In Q1 I seemed very fast, then in Q2 I started a spin and I lost power. From there we lost the pace, but we had the potential to make third and fourth. Today for us the most difficult thing was to manage energy,” the British explains. Third row all McLaren with Oscar Piastri (+0′′′862) in front of the world champion Lando Norris (+0′′′957). Liam Lawson’s top ten Racing Bulls (+1′′′476), Arvid Lindblad (+2′′′729), respectively eighth and ninth, and Gabriel Bortoleto’s Audi, tenth timeless due to a technical problem returning to the box after Q2. Q2 in which the two Haas of Oliver Bearman, 12th, and Esteban Ocon, 13th, the two Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto together with Nico Hulkenberg (Audi), 11th, and Alexander Albon (Williams).
Verstappen, crashed before he managed to score a useful time, will start from the 20th box on the starting grid for what will be an uphill race but worse went to Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and Carlos Sainz (Williams), who remained in the pit for reliability problems. At the start in F1 the Cadillac is 18th with Sergio Perez and 19th with Valtteri Bottas, the last two drivers with a chronometric detection. Tomorrow at 5 pm the green light for the 58 laps of the Australian Grand Prix.
LA GRIGLIA DI PARTENZA
1st row
1. George Russell (Gbr) Mercedes 1’18′′′518 at an average speed of 241.9 km/h
2. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Ita) Mercedes 1’18′′ 811
2nd row
3. Isack Hadjar (Fra) Red Bull 1’19′′303
4. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1’19′′′327
3rd row
5. Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren 1’19′′′380
6. Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1’19′′′475
4th row
7. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Ferrari 1’19′′478
8. Liam Lawson (Nzl) Racing Bulls 1’19′′994
5th row
9. Arvid Lindblad (Gbr) Racing Bulls 1’21′′247
10. Gabriel Bortoleto (Bra) Audi NO TIME
6th row
11. Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Audi 1’20′′303
12. Oliver Bearman (Gbr) Haas 1’20′′ 3.
7th row
13. Esteban Ocon (Fra) Haas 1’20 ′′′′′ 4.
14. Pierre Gasly (Fra) Alpine 1’20′′′501
8th row
15. Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams 1’20′′941
16. Franco Colapinto (Arg) Alpine 1’21′′270
9th row
17. Fernando Alonso (Esp) Aston Martin 1’21′′969
18. Sergio Perez (Mex) Cadillac 1’22′′605
10th row
19. Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Cadillac 1’23′′244
20. Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull NO TIME
11th row
21. Carlos Sainz (Esp) Williams NO TIME
22. Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin NO TIME
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
