Qualifying for the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix delivered several surprises and dramatic moments at the Albert Park Circuit. Mercedes showed strong pace, with George Russell taking pole position for the season-opening race. His teammate Kimi Antonelli secured second place, giving Mercedes a front-row lockout. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar qualified third, while Ferrari and McLaren followed closely behind.
The session also featured incidents and red flags. One of the biggest moments came early, when Max Verstappen crashed in Q1 and ended his qualifying run.
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Q1 – Verstappen crash causes early drama
Early lap times showed strong pace from the Mercedes drivers, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli quickly moving near the top of the timing sheets. McLaren and Ferrari drivers also looked competitive during the opening runs.
Max Verstappen lost control of his Red Bull and spun into the gravel at Turn 1. The car stopped in the run-off area and the session was briefly stopped with a red flag. Because of the incident, Verstappen could not continue and failed to set a lap time and was eliminated in Q1. It is an unexpected result for one of the pre-weekend favourites.
Out: Alonso, Perez, Bottas, Verstappen, Sainz, Stroll
Q2 – Mercedes and Red Bull show strong pace
Lap times became faster as the track conditions improved and teams switched to fresh tires.
Mercedes looked very competitive during this phase. Both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli delivered strong laps and comfortably progressed into Q3.
Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar also continued his impressive performance.
Ferrari and McLaren drivers also managed to reach Q3, although their lap times suggested they might struggle to match the Mercedes pace. Ferrari and McLaren also advanced to the final session. However, their lap times suggested they could struggle to match the pace of Mercedes.
Out: Hulkenberg, Bearman, Ocon, Gasly, Albon, Colapinto
Q3 – Russell secures pole position
George Russell produced the best performance in Q3. The Mercedes driver set a lap time of 1:18.518, which was enough to secure pole position.
His teammate Kimi Antonelli finished second, completing a strong result for the Mercedes team. It was particularly impressive after Antonelli’s heavy crash earlier in the day during final practice, which required major repairs to his car before qualifying.
Isack Hadjar qualified third for Red Bull. The young driver delivered an excellent lap and secured a strong starting position for the race.
Behind the top three, Charles Leclerc placed fourth for Ferrari. Oscar Piastri qualified fifth for McLaren at his home race, while teammate Lando Norris finished sixth. Lando Norris finished sixth, while Lewis Hamilton ended the session in seventh place. Liam Lawson rounded out the top eight.
F1 Australian GP Qualifying Summary: Mercedes leads the grid
After qualifying, Mercedes appears to be the team to beat at the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season. With Russell on pole and Antonelli alongside him, the team secured the best possible starting positions.
However, the race could still bring surprises. Drivers from Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren will start close behind and will look for opportunities during the race.
With Verstappen starting from the back after his Q1 crash, the 2026 Australian Grand Prix already promises plenty of action when the lights go out in Melbourne.
The full results of the qualifying according to FIA.com:
