F1 2026 Australian GP qualifying results: George Russell secures pole as Verstappen crashes out

In a first thrilling qualifying session of F1 2026 Australian Grand Prix, George Russell secured the Melbourne pole, but Max Verstappen crashed out.

The Mercedes team delivered an impressive performance by locking out the entire front row of the grid with George Russell and Kim Antonelli.

Russell took the top spot, finishing significantly ahead of his new teammate, Kim Antonelli (and Red Bull's Isack Hadjer.

Unfortunately, Max Verstappen crashed on his very first lap, preventing a head-on-head competition with Russell and failing to challenge the superiority of Mercedes.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took 4th place and Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finished 5th and 6th. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton followed in 7th.

Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawdon finished 8th, just ahead of his rookie teammate Arvind Lindblad.

Here are the full qualifying results of F1 2026 Australian GP:

• George Russell from Mercedes secures Position 1
• Kim Antonelli from team Mercedes: Position 2
• Isack Hadjar from Red Bull: Position 3
• Charles Leclerc from Ferrari: Position 4
• Oscar Piastri from team McLaren: Position 5
• McLaren's Lando Noris: Position 6
• Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari: 7
• Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls: 8
• Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls: 9
• Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi: 10
• Nico Hulkenberg, Audi: 11
• Oliver Bearman, Haas: 12
• Esteban Ocon, Haas: 13
• Pierre Gasly, Alpine Mercedes: 14
• Alex Albon, Williams-Mercedes: 15
• Franco Colapinto, Alpine Mercedes: 16
• Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin: 17
• Sergio Perez, Cadillac Ferrari: 18
• Valtteri Boltas, Cadillac Ferrari: 19
• Max Verstappen, Red Bull: 20
• Carlos Sainz, Williams-Mercedes: 21