George Does It

And so it begins! A brand new set of regulations, a brand new season, and within about three laps it was clear that 2026 is going to be something a bit special.

Let's start with the elephant in the room — or rather the two elephants with silver arrows on the side. Mercedes are fast. Very fast. George Russell converted pole into victory in a race that had drama, strategy, intrigue, and a Ferrari shaped hole where the win should have been.

The Ferraris were rapid off the line — Charles Leclerc surged ahead of Russell at the start and led the opening phase. Ferrari looked like they had something. Then came the Virtual Safety Cars, Ferrari gambled by staying out, Mercedes pitted, and that was essentially that. What Ferrari gave up was track position, and with it, control of the race. Get it right once, and you'd call it a strategy masterstroke. Get it wrong at a crucial moment, and it's the conversation we're still having now.

Russell won by 2.9 seconds over teammate Kimi Antonelli — and yes, the teenager was right there, closing in during the final laps. Leclerc took third, with Lewis Hamilton a desperately close fourth — 0.6 seconds behind Charles after an absolutely storming drive that included a sensational double overtake and genuine podium pace. His first Ferrari podium remains tantalisingly just out of reach. Give it time.

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen had a brilliant battle for fifth, which tells you everything about where McLaren and Red Bull currently find themselves versus Mercedes and Ferrari. Max had started 20th after a qualifying spin, so fifth from last was actually impressive — but it's not where a four-time champion wants to be.

Oscar Piastri didn't even start. Crashed on his out-lap on home soil. Ouch.

Oliver Bearman was brilliant in the Haas for seventh, and 18-year-old debutant Arvid Lindblad scored points in eighth on his first F1 weekend. Lovely stuff.

The feeling going into China? Mercedes look like the class of the field with their new regulations package. Ferrari aren't far behind but need to sort their strategy. McLaren and Red Bull have work to do. And a 19-year-old Italian is already making his teammate nervous.

Not bad for a season opener, is it?!