The most expensive regulation cycle in the sport's history opened in Melbourne — a public park the Victorian government subsidises by roughly AUD $78m a year — and the new rules immediately rewarded the team that had spent two seasons getting its house in order. Mercedes went 1–2, and the reset's first mover was the incumbent, not a challenger. The home hero never started.

Russell won from pole, but Leclerc grabbed the lead at the start and the two traded it over the opening laps (Leclerc led 23 laps, Russell 32, Hamilton 3). Lap 11: a VSC for Hadjar's engine failure. Both Mercedes pitted for fresh hards; both Ferraris stayed out, committing to a one-stopper. Lap 16: a second VSC when Bottas's Cadillac stopped. The pit lane was closed to recover his car, denying Ferrari a cheap stop — they had to pit anyway and handed track position back to Mercedes. Mercedes ran to the flag on 46-lap-old hards; Russell matched Leclerc's post-stop pace, so Ferrari's tyre-age offset never converted into an attack. Russell beat Antonelli by 2.974s for Mercedes' first 1–2 since the 2024 Las Vegas GP and his sixth career win, taking the championship lead for the first time. Verstappen clawed from P20 to P6 on a hard–medium–hard run; Norris held him off for P5.

George Russell leads the Drivers' Championship on 25 (7 pts clear of Andrea Kimi Antonelli). Top three: George Russell 25, Andrea Kimi Antonelli 18, Charles Leclerc 15. Constructors: Mercedes 43 ahead of Ferrari 27. Verified · source: Jolpica standings after Round 1.

George Russell leads the Drivers' Championship on 25 (7 pts clear of Andrea Kimi Antonelli). Top three: George Russell 25, Andrea Kimi Antonelli 18, Charles Leclerc 15. Constructors: Mercedes 43 ahead of Ferrari 27. Verified · source: Jolpica standings after Round 1.