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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCharles Leclerc ahead of George Russell during the opening laps of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. Image: InSyde Media<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCharles Leclerc ahead of George Russell during the opening laps of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. Image: InSyde Media<\/p>\n
The Scuderia elected not to pit either Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton during two early virtual safety car periods at Albert Park, a decision that ultimately handed control of the race to Mercedes as George Russell led home teammate Kimi Antonelli in a one-two<\/a>.<\/p>\n Leclerc had taken the lead from Russell at the start after launching from fourth on the grid, with the pair engaged in an intense battle that saw the lead change multiple times in the opening laps.<\/p>\n Hamilton also surged forward from seventh to run third, putting both Ferraris firmly in the fight at the front.<\/p>\n The complexion of the race shifted on Lap 11 when Isack Hadjar stopped his Red Bull at the side of the track, triggering a Virtual Safety Car.<\/p>\n Mercedes immediately took advantage, double-stacking Russell and Antonelli in the pits, while Ferrari kept both of its cars on track.<\/p>\n A second opportunity soon followed when Valtteri Bottas pulled his Cadillac to a halt near the pit entry, prompting another VSC.<\/p>\n Ferrari again stayed out, only for the pit lane to be closed moments later as marshals moved Bottas\u2019 car, leaving the team unable to pit before racing resumed.<\/p>\n With both Ferraris eventually stopping under green flag conditions, Leclerc fell to third while Hamilton finished fourth behind the Mercedes pair.<\/p>\n Despite the scrutiny that followed the call, team principal Fred Vasseur insisted the strategy itself was not the defining factor in the result.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to be realistic with this, they were eight tenths faster than us yesterday,\u201d Vasseur said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe fight like hell at the beginning. Now I think at this stage of the race, nobody was expecting to be one [pit] stop. We targeted the optimum for us, and the optimum was to extend.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were also surprised by the life of the tyres. I think we could have done 300 laps today!<\/p>\n \u201cBut it is like it is, I think they still had, during the race, a delta of performance with us.<\/p>\n \u201cThe issue is not the strategy or the core, it\u2019s just the pure pace.\u201d<\/p>\n Vasseur also rejected suggestions that mirroring Mercedes\u2019 early stop would have put Ferrari in position to win the race.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the pace of Mercedes was better than us,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n \u201cEven when they pitted they were there or four tenths faster than us and they kept this pace all the stint.<\/p>\n \u201cOk, probably we were able to fight a little bit more at the beginning but perhaps pushing a bit more on the tyres and I have no regrets on the strategy, no regrets on the pace of today.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did a decent step compared to yesterday and let\u2019s be focused on China.\u201d<\/p>\n Watch the lights \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n And in the blink of an eye the 2026 season is GO! #F1<\/a> #AusGP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/dVQ6WH0NeF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Formula 1 (@F1) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Leclerc echoed that view after the race, explaining that the team\u2019s call was a calculated gamble based on the expectation of further interruptions.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I don\u2019t regret it,\u201d said Leclerc.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a wanted and conscious choice. Looking at FP1 to now, there\u2019s been at every session a car that was stopped, at least one car.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew that there were very high chances that this was not going to be the only VSC of the race and so we thought that it was better for us to maybe wait for another one, and that\u2019s always a gamble.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, we didn\u2019t know that this would happen. Reality is we\u2019ve had other VSC after and one which was particularly well placed but unfortunately for this one for us the pit entry was closed and we couldn\u2019t take it.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we were a little bit unlucky on that side but it was a conscious choice again and I don\u2019t really regret it.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton questioned the call during the race as the Mercedes cars pitted around him, but ultimately downplayed any frustration with the result.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no mixed emotions, I feel great,\u201d he said after the race.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a really great race. Seventh to fourth. I think the team did a great job overall and the car was fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n While acknowledging Mercedes appeared to have the upper hand on pace, the seven-time world champion admitted the team would still analyse the decision.<\/p>\n \u201cI think ultimately the Mercedes were quicker than us, and that\u2019s probably the only position,\u201d Hamilton added.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only result is that we were going to have a maximum of third again today.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll definitely go and look and see whether stopping might be better.<\/p>\n \u201cI definitely thought, when I saw two Mercedes going, one ahead of me, one behind me, I thought we should have come in, or at least one of us should have come in and covered.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll have a look and see what we\u2019ve got there.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite missing out on victory in Melbourne, Ferrari left the opening race of the 2026 season second in the constructors\u2019 championship with 27 points, 22 more than from the same race a year ago.<\/p>\n Mercedes outsmarts Ferrari for 1-2 in epic Australian GP<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
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