Scuderia Ferrari concluded the Australian Grand Prix with a podium finish and a solid performance from Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The 2026 Formula 1 season opened positively for the Italian team, with Leclerc securing third and Hamilton finishing fourth, bringing home a total of 27 points—a solid foundation for the start of the championship.
Thrilling start in Melbourne
The Melbourne GP delivered intense action, particularly during the opening stages, highlighted by a fierce battle between Leclerc and George Russell for the lead. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur emphasized that these first laps reflected the excitement the new era of Formula 1 has brought.
“I think this was a very exciting race for our sport,” Fred Vasseur explained. “There were some pessimistic comments about this new Formula 1 ahead of the season, but I believe the start and the first ten laps were among the most thrilling we have seen in the last ten years.”
Perfect start for Ferrari
Both Ferrari cars got off to an excellent start. Charles Leclerc immediately took the lead into the first corner, while Lewis Hamilton gained positions, moving up to third by the first sector. The duel between Leclerc and Russell ignited instantly. George Russell overtook Charles Leclerc on the second lap, but the Monegasque driver responded immediately, reclaiming the lead on the following lap. Their battle continued until lap 12, when a Virtual Safety Car was deployed for Isack Hadjar’s stranded car.
During the VSC period, Mercedes opted to pit Russell and Antonelli for Hard tires, while Ferrari chose to stay out and follow their pre-planned race strategy.
Ferrari’s strategy and Fred Vasseur’s analysis
Charles Leclerc made his pit stop on lap 25, switching to Hard tires, with Hamilton following three laps later. After the sequence of stops, the Ferraris stabilized in third and fourth positions, which they maintained until the checkered flag.
According to Fred Vasseur, given the pace of the cars ahead, the result represented the maximum achievable under the circumstances. “From our point of view, third and fourth place is a good result,” explained the Ferrari team principal. “After qualifying, we had seen there was a performance gap with the cars in front, so this was probably the best outcome we could achieve in the race.”
Fred Vasseur also commented on Ferrari’s strategic choice during the Virtual Safety Car. “We decided not to pit because we were focused on our optimal strategy,” he said, noting a touch of bad luck during the second neutralization. “The pit lane was closed just when we could have stopped.”
Despite this, Ferrari looks ahead to the rest of the season with confidence. “The season is very long, and in the coming months we will need to improve many aspects,” Fred Vasseur concluded.
The opening round in Melbourne provided a clear snapshot of the competitive hierarchy for the 2026 season, highlighting both the strengths of the new regulations and the areas where teams must focus their development to close the gap at the front of the grid.
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