Ferrari secured a podium finish at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc finishing third and Lewis Hamilton taking fourth place. While Mercedes dominated the race with a one-two finish, the Scuderia showed encouraging pace, particularly during the early stages of the event at Albert Park.
In the opening phase of the race, the Ferrari SF-26 appeared to be the only car capable of matching the impressive speed of the Mercedes W17. However, the Virtual Safety Car triggered by the retirement of Isack Hadjar and the immediate pit stop made by the Silver Arrows ultimately helped secure the one-two result for the team led by Toto Wolff.
A season still difficult to read
The Australian Grand Prix marked the opening chapter of what already looks like a complex and unpredictable Formula 1 season. Between tricky race starts, the challenge of managing energy systems, and performance levels that remain difficult to judge, the impression is that the competitive order could change significantly in the coming races.
The only clear certainty in Melbourne was the strength of Mercedes. George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivered a perfect performance, securing the first one-two finish of the 2026 campaign.
Behind them, Ferrari completed the podium with Charles Leclerc, while Lewis Hamilton had to settle for fourth position. Nevertheless, the seven-time world champion appeared energized and optimistic when speaking to reporters after the race, reflecting the confidence he showed behind the wheel of the SF-26.
“I don’t have any bad feelings, I feel great,” Hamilton said after the race. “It was a good race, the car was fantastic and the team did a great job.”
Hamilton: “We did the maximum today”
Lewis Hamilton acknowledged that Mercedes had the edge in Melbourne but still believes Ferrari extracted the maximum from the weekend.
“We finished third and fourth, and I think the two Mercedes cars were simply faster than us,” explained the British driver. “I think third place was probably the best we could aim for today.”
At the same time, Lewis Hamilton admitted that the strategy will need to be carefully reviewed after the race.
“Of course we will need to evaluate whether stopping earlier would have been a better choice. When I saw both Mercedes cars coming into the pits, I definitely thought that at least one of us should have boxed as well.”
Confidence in Ferrari’s development
Looking ahead to the next races, Hamilton stressed that Ferrari must keep pushing to close the gap with Mercedes.
“Now we have to keep pushing, bringing updates and continuing to develop the car,” he said. “They seem to have found something on the straights, because I think our car is as good as theirs in many areas. We need to understand it, but I trust the team.”
Despite missing out on the podium himself, Hamilton ended on a positive note about his new car: “I think the SF-26 is actually very fun to drive.”
Lewis Hamilton’s post-race reflection highlights a driver who is fully integrated into the Ferrari project, focusing on technical growth and tactical refinement rather than dwelling on the P4 result. By identifying the Mercedes straight-line speed as the key differentiator, the Briton has given the Maranello engineers a clear target for the upcoming development cycle, ensuring that the Scuderia’s fightback starts long before the cars hit the track in Shanghai.
