When George Russell took pole position on Saturday by 0.8 seconds from everyone bar his teammate Kimi Antonelli, Oscar Piastri warned Mercedes’s advantage was bigger than he had hoped and feared.
The Australian, whose tough relationship with his home race continued with a pre-race crash, summed up the mood of the pitlane when he said: “Mercedes – it was a bit of a surprise just how far ahead they are.”
Come the race itself, however, the edge Russell and Mercedes had over Ferrari was not quite as monstrous as many expected and they didn’t exactly disappear into the distance.
The Albert Park curse strikes again for Oscar pic.twitter.com/ZdCXSCsuOj
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) March 8, 2026But this is only grand prix one of a potential 24-race season depending on whether Bahrain and Saudi Arabia go ahead amid the ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East.
This was the first very public test of Formula One’s bold new era with millions around the world tuning in and, for much of it, it was like Wacky Races for a new generation.
Sure, much of the overtaking was manufactured as Leclerc and Russell changed the lead seven times in the opening 10 laps.
But it made a pleasant change from the eras of Lewis Hamilton processions off the start line in Mercedes’ last period of dominance, then Max Verstappen for a few seasons and most recently the two McLarens in 2025.
And it was strangely captivating watching the greatest drivers on the planet learn in real time not just how to harness their battery power – cars are now 50 per cent powered electrically – but then have enough of a power boost to make that particular move stick.
F1's new era on full display as George Russell and Charles Leclerc traded the lead multiple times in the opening laps of the Australian GP! pic.twitter.com/Iswn8jRAEM
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) March 8, 2026This is merely part one of F1’s bold new era, a sport that makes no secret of its perpetual quest for entertainment in the ongoing Drive to Survive generation.
And as initiations go, few could deny it didn’t entertain.
It was not simply the Leclerc-Russell duel, which manifested itself thanks to Ferrari’s smaller power-unit concept which gave the Monagesque driver an absolute flyer off the start line but the tussles throughout the field going to the chequered flag with last season’s leading championship protagonists Lando Norris and Verstappen tussling over P5.
Verstappen has been arguably the most vehement among the drivers in railing against this F1 2.0, first likening it to “Formula E on steroids” and being the primary vocal objector in the drivers’ pre-race briefing.
The events of the subsequent 58 laps did little to assuage him but that outlook will surely diminish if he is fighting for the race wins at the front of the field as may well prove to be the case.
Whether he can do that remains to be seen. Red Bull pack up from Albert Park as the great unknown. Isack Hadjar, who had driven superbly to qualify in P3, only lasted 10 laps before crashing out while his teammate had to claw his way from the back of the grid to what proved a comfortable points finish in the end.
It is clear the first-ever in-house power unit from Red Bull lacks the top-end oomph of its Mercedes rival but it is not a dud either and the team with arguably the best in-season development on the grid in recent seasons will surely find a way to claw back that deficit.
Some of the criticism of F1 in 2026 is warranted. It was definitely jarring to see the ultimate racers on the planet having to lift and coast to harness the required power rather than attack corners full on.
But there were still some reassuring elements of years gone by, notably Ferrari fluffing their pitstop strategy by failing to bring in either Leclerc or Hamilton following the first virtual safety car after Hadjar’s crash.
In reality, getting that right would not have affected the overall outcome of the race but thankfully this was not Russell and Mercedes exactly having things all their way either.
Your next read
square FOOTBALL My Sporting LifeBen Foster: Ryan Reynolds didn’t know much about football – but it’s worked
square HUGH GODWINOne more England disaster and Steve Borthwick is done
square RUGBY LEAGUE Sport Analysis‘They won’t f**k around’: Super League has three months to decide its future
square PETE HALLWrexham have entered their villain era
For me, F1 2026 has passed its first test. This race entertained which is the No 1 goal and there is potential for a captivating season as long as Russell and Mercedes do not extract more pace over the chasing pack.
Plus, remember this is off the back of the fact that Albert Park as a track is arguably the worst potential advert for this new iteration of cars.
Energy harvesting was always going to be a tough ask at this track more than any other on the calendar. With that in mind, this was a promising start. There are plenty of things to iron out but I am intrigued to see that play out.
Hence then, the article about f1 s new era is a strangely captivating version of wacky races was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( F1’s new era is a strangely captivating version of Wacky Races )
Also on site :