Sunday at 3: 00 p. m. ET — Spectators at Albert Park and the Mercedes team felt the immediate effect when Leclerc F1 shot into the lead on the opening lap, forcing rivals to recalibrate strategy and leaving two drivers out of the race before the first corners.
Leclerc F1 start hands Ferrari the lead while Mercedes struggle off the line
Charles Leclerc began the race from fourth on the grid and used a powerful launch to pass pole-sitter George Russell into Turn 1, moving Ferrari into first place within seconds of the lights going out. A new race start procedure left the lead Mercedes slow off the line, creating the gap Leclerc needed to charge past and secure control of the early running.
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli lose positions after poor getaways
George Russell, who had been on pole, lost out immediately as Leclerc surged by, dropping from the front row as the field bunched into Turn 1. Kimi Antonelli suffered an even larger setback: starting second, he tumbled down the order and had fallen to seventh place by the end of the opening lap.
Oscar Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg fail to start the race at Albert Park
Home hopeful Oscar Piastri did not make the opening lap after crashing on the way to the grid; he had qualified fifth before that incident. Separately, Nico Hulkenberg returned to the garage with a technical issue shortly before the start and was also out of the running before the opening lap began.
Lewis Hamilton and rookie Arvid Lindblad rallied from their starting positions, with Hamilton moving from seventh to third after passing Isack Hadjar and Lindblad improving to fourth, reshaping the top-four order established by the opening lap.
If the race proceeds without further incidents, the running order produced on the opening lap will determine team tactics and how the next phase of the Australian Grand Prix unfolds.
