Dougie: Not true Formula 1 racing. Not testing the skills to become the ultimate driver. Won’t take long to get boring.

Ro: It's not F1 any more. It's EF1. It's now not racing any longer.

George Russell has been speaking to Sky Sports and comments how he didn't use his boost mode button, which allows drivers to use full power from the battery for attacking or defending, during one of his duels with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc for the race lead. He says that's a learning he'll take into the next grand prix, which is only a few days away in China.

It's early, early, early days but Russell is top of the drivers' championship on 25 points from his team-mate Kimi Antonelli, with Mercedes leading Ferrari in the constructors' standings by 16 points.

Edward: Overall a promising start to these new regs. A little concerned about cars sometimes blasting past others, but that opening stint was chaotic. Impressed with Lindbland, solid debut drive.

Shay: Be interesting to see how the season goes on but I still don't like being able to pit under safety or virtual safety car. Too much reliance on luck rather than racing prowess.

Image source, Getty Images

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finishes third in Melbourne: "It was a very tricky race, I mean honestly at the start I don't think any of us knew what to expect with the fights and the energy.

"It's then even more tricky for the overtakes to defend, you don't really when your battery is going to cut in the straight.

"So while defending there is massive speed differences, it's been quite challenging, but I was happy to get out of the battle in first.

"Unfortunately, it didn't quite help us for the rest of the race, but it was a fun first half of the race and P3 was the best we could do today."

On taking the lead at the start: "The person who has been switching on the lights has been quite cheeky because for the start of the season for these cars to go so quick lights off, I think it took everybody by surprise.

"We are always very much on the limit with the power unit, so I think that played a little bit in our hands, but it's part of the game."

On whether Ferrari had the opportunity to win the race: "I don't think so, but maybe I'm wrong. It looked like Mercedes maybe had a bit more pace than us today, but maybe not as much as we saw yesterday, so that's a good thing, but I don't think we could have won."

Image source, Getty Images

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who finishes second at the Australian Grand Prix: "It was the best start we could have wished for. Unfortunately the start was really bad, lost a lot of places. I found myself having to recover. But overall, it was a good race. The pace was really strong, especially at the end. Looking forward to next week.

"The racing was incredible. The first few laps, with the overtake, is so powerful that it can give a lot of action. It was really good fun at the beginning and now, a bit of a rest and looking forward to China."

Image source, Getty Images

Mercedes’ George Russell, who converts his pole position into a race victory: "I'm feeling incredible, it was a hell of a fight at the beginning. We knew it was going to be challenging and I got on the grid and I saw my battery level had nothing in the tank.

"I made a bad start and obviously some really tight battles with Charles [Leclerc], so I was really glad to cross the finish line.

"Thank you so much for the whole team, it's been a long time coming to have this car beneath us."

On the race: "I'm glad you guys enjoyed it, we had the suspicion that it was going to be a bit of a yoyo effect, as soon as one of us got in front it felt impossible to hold it.

"Obviously with this straight mode, we lose a lot of the front end on the cars, so we're sort of just understeering a lot round these corners.

"Maybe the FIA are going to have to improve that a little bit because it was a bit sketchy, but I made it in one piece and I'm glad to be one-two."

Champagne momentpublished at 05:48 GMT 8 March

05:48 GMT 8 March

Image source, Getty Images

The top three have reached the cooldown room and are chatting about energy deployment and lack of battery at the race start. The audio keeps cutting out, though, a bit like when Big Brother used to do on the live feed, so maybe there are a few naughty words being said.

George Russell, Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc makes their way to the podium next to soak up the applause of the Australian fans below. Russell lifts that fantastic Sir Jack Brabham trophy above his head and the crowd cheers loudly.

Pop that champagne - it's time to celebrate!

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Live

Everybody else now in Formula 1 scratching their head and wondering where that huge chunk of performance is going to come from.

Behind the top three, Lewis Hamilton takes fourth place after qualifying in seventh, world champion Lando Norris finishes in fifth and Max Verstappen, who didn't even set a time in qualifying yesterday because of his crash, came through the field to claim sixth spot.

Haas are off the mark thanks to Oliver Bearman's seventh place, Brit rookie Arvid Lindblad scores points on his debut by finishing eighth, new team Audi collect points through Gabriel Bortoleto in ninth and Pierre Gasly continues his points scoring for Alpine by securing 10th position.

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Live

The dream start for Mercedes, they could not have wished for anything else this weekend.

They were clear of the field and not really a challenge coming from anywhere.

Engineer: "You ripper. Great job, awesome drive, awesome weekend. Well done mate."

Russell: "Woo. Very nice, very nice. I like this car, I like this engine, Great job."

The end is almost near for Mercedes and George Russell, so a quick recharge of the battery and off the race leader goes to start his final lap.

Charles Leclerc is sitting in third place, just a fraction ahead of his team-mate Lewis Hamilton in fourth.

BBC 5 Live's Jennie Gow speaking to McLaren's Oscar Piastri after he crashed on the way to the grid: "I'm feeling pretty disappointed obviously. It was a situation that shouldn't happen, we need to review a bit further on what exactly happened.

"A combination of a few things like cold tyres, probably being a bit optimistic on the kerb on the first lap, but also I had 100 kilowatts more power than what I expected which is not insignificant.

"I think if you put all of those together, even if you have one or two of those things then you can manage it, but when you put all of them together it caught me by surprise."

On picking yourself up: "I mean just try and learn as much as I can. It's clearly been an interesting race, so just try and learn what I can."

George Russell is looking cool, clam and collected out in front, ready to take his first win of the new campaign. All the Brits are in the top 10 at Albert Park, so a good points day haul for the UK drivers overall.

The new era of Formula 1 is under way and it's been an eventful day in Melbourne, which started with home driver Oscar Piastri crashing out on his way to the grid. I think Australian fans will be pleased with the rest of the action on track, though. Certainly with the changing of the lead between George Russell and Charles Leclerc in the opening stages.

Ryan: Very impressive performance from Verstappen, indeed. Fastest lap against these Merc rockets!

Andrew: A very enjoyable opening race of this new F1 era. Those opening 15 laps were some of the most chaotic I have ever seen, you could watch it back 5 times and see a different thing each time.

Toto Wolff looks happy in the Mercedes garage - the Silver Arrows boss is only a few laps away from both his drivers occupying the top two steps of the podium for the first race of the 2026 season.

1. George Russell (Mercedes)

2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

5. Lando Norris (McLaren)

Image source, Getty Images

George Russell is 4.9 seconds ahead of his team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who crashed heavily in third practice yesterday, as the chequered flag is almost ready to come out. Charles Leclerc is third and Lewis Hamilton is fourth, but the seven-time world champion's engineer still thinks a surprise could happen to shake things up.