All articles tagged with #mercedes
Verstappen reportedly would only stay in F1 if he can race for Mercedes; if not, he could retire after 2026. A potential exit clause could be triggered Aug–Oct depending on his standings, while Red Bull plans frank discussions during the break with links to Mercedes remaining through his camp.
Toto Wolff said a Mercedes setup tweak caused oversteer and nose instability for George Russell in qualifying at Suzuka, leaving him at a disadvantage for the Japanese Grand Prix. Russell qualified second while team-mate Kimi Antonelli took pole, and Wolff indicated the changes are unlikely to be reversed before the race, meaning Russell may have to race with the issue.
Mercedes topped FP1 at Suzuka with George Russell fastest (1:31.666), followed by teammate Kimi Antonelli as McLaren broke into the top five; the session also featured driver changes and ongoing investigations amid Honda noting vibrations when the power unit is fitted to the AMR26 chassis.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli claimed his first Formula One victory at the Shanghai International Circuit, winning the Chinese Grand Prix and helping Mercedes extend their strong start to the season.
Peter Bonnington described Kimi Antonelli’s maiden F1 victory at the Chinese Grand Prix as a touching moment on the podium with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, calling it a chance to feel like “getting the band back together.” He contrasted working with Antonelli to Hamilton, highlighting the young driver’s extra speed and energy and the trust Bonnington is building as Mercedes’ race engineer, while noting the mentor–protégé dynamic and the ongoing development needed to continue their championship pursuit.
Kimi Antonelli won his first Formula 1 race at the Chinese Grand Prix, becoming the second-youngest winner and the first Italian to win since 2006, as Mercedes secured a 1-2 with Russell finishing second after an early safety-car restart; Hamilton and Leclerc traded places in a Ferrari duel, and McLaren suffered double retirements before the start, with Verstappen also retiring late.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff drew praise after a video showed his reaction to Lewis Hamilton finishing third in Chinese Grand Prix qualifying behind Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, with his line 'Still our driver' prompting an outpouring of support from F1 fans ahead of the 2026 race weekend.
George Russell took sprint pole in Shanghai for Mercedes, beating teammate Kimi Antonelli by 0.289s with Norris third and Hamilton fourth; Piastri fifth and Leclerc sixth complemented a Mercedes-dominated front, while Verstappen endured an eighth-place showing as Red Bull lagged. Russell’s pole is his second in six days after Australia, highlighting Mercedes’ pace in the sprint format ahead of tomorrow’s race.
George Russell led a Mercedes 1-2 in the sole Chinese Grand Prix practice, with Kimi Antonelli second and Lando Norris third. Oscar Piastri was fourth and Charles Leclerc fifth, while Lewis Hamilton was sixth after an earlier spin on older tyres. Max Verstappen was eighth, behind Haas driver Oliver Bearman, and Arvid Lindblad retired after six laps with a reliability issue. Ferrari introduced a rear wing with a rotating flap for straight-line mode, and Norris and Hamilton collided at the final corner early in the session. Sprint qualifying is scheduled for 07:30 UK time.
Mercedes claimed a commanding 1-2 in the Australian Grand Prix (Russell ahead of Antonelli), signaling a potential world championship battle as Ferrari pushed Mercedes early but couldn’t match their pace. The win, aided by smart pit strategy and Mercedes’ engine advantage under the new rules, left Toto Wolff and George Russell confident in a title fight, while Ferrari showed competitiveness and the pace to challenge as upgrades and strategies evolve.
Mercedes reasserted itself in a chaotic Australian Grand Prix, led by Russell and the maturing Antonelli as the team unveiled a stronger energy-deployment approach under the 2026 rules; Cadillac delivered a promising F1 debut with solid pace, while Red Bull and Audi showed competitive form despite early teething issues. McLaren struggled to sustain momentum across the new regulations, Aston Martin–Honda battled vibrations and reliability concerns, Williams lagged with weight and downforce penalties, and rookies Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad impressed for Racing Bulls, with Piastri's home race ending in retirement and Bearman/Colapinto earning praise for smart saves.
George Russell won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix from pole for Mercedes, signaling a strong start under a sweeping rule change that shifts emphasis to energy harvesting and battery power. Antonelli finished second for Mercedes, with Leclerc third and Hamilton fourth; Norris was fifth and Verstappen sixth after starting 20th following a qualifying crash. Piastri failed to start after crashing on a reconnaissance lap, Ferrari missed an early pit chance, and Cadillac’s debut faced a technical setback, underscoring the new regulations’ immediate impact on the field.
George Russell won the 2026 Australian Grand Prix for Mercedes, sealing a 1-2 finish with teammate Kimi Antonelli after Ferrari mis-timed a virtual safety-car call. Leclerc led early and traded the lead with Russell before fading; Hamilton finished fourth as Norris beat Verstappen to fifth. Piastri crashed out before the start, while rookie Arvid Lindblad finished eighth for Racing Bulls amid early reliability hiccups in the new F1 era.
George Russell led Mercedes to a Melbourne 1-2, beating teammate Kimi Antonelli after Ferrari chose not to pit under two Virtual Safety Car periods, costing them a serious challenge; Charles Leclerc finished third and Lewis Hamilton fourth, with Lando Norris fifth and Max Verstappen sixth as Oscar Piastri crashed on the reconnaissance lap and Valtteri Bottas retired late.
George Russell wins the Australian Grand Prix 2026 in Melbourne to give Mercedes a one-two with teammate Antonelli; Leclerc takes third ahead of Hamilton, while Norris holds off Verstappen for fifth, in a race launched by Oscar Piastri’s crash on the installation lap and featuring multiple retirements and strategic pit decisions.