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2026 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix Heroes and Zeroes

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Jericoke:
Heroes
Mercedes.  They've got the class of the field.  The engine and car are both working well.  The team has strategy down.  The mechanics made a heroic rebuild of Antonelli's cars to get him into qualifying.

Russell.  One race, one win.  The opening laps featured an epic fight with LeClerc.  It was very clean, very strategic, and I think what everyone was hoping the new regs would deliver. 

Antonelli.  Fantastic race, only outdone by his teammate.

LeClerc.  Third place after a strong opening battle with Russell.  As I said above, the fight was intense, but also respectful and fair.  I feel like Charles has a good feeling for what his car can do.

Hamilton.  A fantastic race, his opening lap was absolutely epic, from his launch, to winding through the field, to backing off when he needed to to gain other opportunities.

Verstappen.  As much as I hate to admit it, he's such a talented driver, there would have to be an absolute disaster to have a race without him as a hero.  The car failed him in qualifying, setting the stage for him to carve through the field.  He may publicly hate the car/rules, he may have been let down by the car, but he still has his almost supernatural connection to the car that lets him get the most out of it.

Stroll.  Completed the race in car many thought wouldn't make the start.  Certainly not an all time race, but an accomplishment none the less.

Zeroes
Ferrari strategy.  I don't believe that there was a path for Ferrari to win the race against Mercedes, but I also feel like they didn't try either.  You've got two cars running in basically the same position, two virtual safety cars, pit one driver, and give yourself two paths for luck to hit you.

Aston Martin/Honda.  I know making an F1 car is difficult, but 10 other teams managed it.  Williams and Cadillac might not have been able to do much, but they didn't feel like disasters, just disappointments.

Driver wise, I don't think anyone was especially bone headed.  All the crashes/DNFs felt like they were car related, and we expected problems.

Special Mention:  the new rules.

I think that as a spectator, they worked.  The opening laps were fantastic, there was plenty of passing during the race.  Teams struggled a little with strategy, but that's part of learning the new ways things operate.  There were technical issues, but that was expected too.  We had 8 different teams scoring points.  Every team finished at least one car.  The race itself was no bloodbath, so whatever difficulties the drivers had with the cars, control in close racing wasn't one of them.

lkjohnson1950:
Leclerc says he expected to be passed at the start because his battery was so low. He was surprised to find himself leading.
Max says it's like driving Mario Kart, not like real racing.

https://www.racefans.net/2026/03/08/f1-has-become-like-mario-kart-with-new-rules-say-verstappen-and-leclerc/?utm_source=RaceFans_Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Daily_Newsletter

Pitpass' provisional results show Stroll as DNF, possibly not enough laps to be classified?

https://www.pitpass.com/src/seasons/2026/gp/australia/ Scroll down

Jericoke:

--- Quote from: lkjohnson1950 on March 08, 2026, 07:46:59 PM ---Max says it's like driving Mario Kart, not like real racing.

--- End quote ---

Yeah, Mario Kart has sold about $12billion worth of video games, clearly no one is interested in it...

I understand that any 'boost' system is going to feel like it's not 'pure racing', but he's won championships from DRS, I don't see that as any different from the current system in terms of impact on the racing itself.  The ideal F1 car would not slow down a trailing car, but that's not possible, so they have to build in some mechanism to allow cars to pass.  DRS, electrical boost, extra turbo pressure, it doesn't really matter to me: you just need something to make the racing fair (and then of course, let the F1 teams find the loopholes to turn 'fair' to 'advantage')


--- Quote ---Pitpass' provisional results show Stroll as DNF, possibly not enough laps to be classified?

--- End quote ---

Formula1.com shows Stroll as 'not classified', but does not show him as DNF.  I suppose as 'NC' he wouldn't be entitled to points if he was that far back, but also in the top 10. If someone was counting consecutive 'finishes', then that would count towards it.  It's just a meaningless stat, but it might apply to contract considerations.

Dare:
I was really hoping Adrian Newey would bring a little magic
to Australia. Guess we'll have to wait for that

I wonder if Max would have started further up on the grid if
 RB has a podium car

To me if a car is still driving around the track no matter
what lap it's not a dnf

I'm looking for Kime to start giving George a run for his
money soon. Since last year when I thought he wasn't up
to F1 he's made vast improvements

Jericoke:

--- Quote from: Dare on March 09, 2026, 12:06:51 AM ---I'm looking for Kimi to start giving George a run for his
money soon. Since last year when I thought he wasn't up
to F1 he's made vast improvements

--- End quote ---

I know that Hamilton sort of forced Toto's hand on bringing Antonelli to F1 at a tender age.  However, getting a year of experience so he could hit the 'new era' with a running start looks like a genius move in retrospect.  Most 'great' drivers are great right away, especially if they get the right opportunity.  Kimi definitely seems to fit that mould.

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