Formula 1: George Russell wins Australian Grand Prix after taking advantage of early VSC

Nick BrombergSenior writer Sun, March 8, 2026 at 5:27 AM UTC·4 min read George Russell took advantage of an early virtual safety car and preserved his tires over the final stint to easily win the season-opening Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. Russell, the betting favorite to win the 2026 championship, started from the pole and traded the lead with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the opening laps of the race. After Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar had an engine problem and was forced to pull off the track, Russell and teammate Kimi Antonelli were among the drivers who pitted for fresh tires on lap 12 of the 58-lap race.Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That turned out to be the winning move....