Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Andrea Kimi Antonelli admitted he felt relieved after finishing second at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, Melbourne. The young Mercedes driver crossed the line just three seconds behind team-mate George Russell, securing a one-two finish for the German manufacturer.
The result marked a historic milestone for Mercedes, as it was the team’s first one-two finish without Lewis Hamilton in the line-up for more than seven decades. Antonelli had started the race from second on the grid, a notable achievement considering he had suffered a heavy crash during the final practice session earlier in the weekend.
However, the race did not begin smoothly for the Italian driver. A poor launch off the line caused Antonelli to lose several positions, dropping to seventh by the end of the opening lap. He then fought his way back through the field with consistent pace and strong tyre management to reclaim second place by the end of the race.
Antonelli highlighted the competitiveness of the race, particularly in the opening laps where energy deployment, battery harvesting, and overtaking modes played a significant role in on-track battles under Formula 1’s current technical era.
“It was the best start to the season we could have wished for,” Antonelli said.
“Unfortunately, the start of the race was really bad, I lost a lot of places and had to recover.”
“Overall it was a good race. The pace was very strong, especially towards the end, and now I’m looking forward to next week.”
“The racing was incredible in the first few laps. The overtake mode was so powerful that it created a lot of action. It was really good fun at the beginning.”
The result provides a strong early boost for Antonelli in his first full Formula 1 season, while Mercedes begins the 2026 campaign in a commanding position ahead of the next round of the championship at the Chinese Grand Prix.
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