Australian GP review: Winners, losers and what it means for your season

Russell dominated. Mercedes delivered. Here's what the Australia result tells us about the 2026 pecking order and how to position your squad going forward.

The 2026 season opener delivered more clarity than most expected. Mercedes showed dominant pace in both qualifying and the race, with Russell taking a commanding victory ahead of teammate Antonelli.

Ferrari showed genuine race pace — Leclerc and Hamilton both delivered strong results. This team is going to be a key F1 Fantasy asset throughout the season.

What the result means for your squad

Mercedes are the must-have constructor. Their pace advantage is real and the prices haven't fully reflected it yet. Get them in before the price rise hits.

Russell is the standout captain option heading into China. His form, the car's pace, and the circuit characteristics all point to another strong weekend.

The Bearman factor

Nobody predicted Ollie Bearman would score points in the season opener, but he delivered a mature drive that underlined his growing reputation. At his price point, he represents one of the best value picks on the grid right now.

McLaren concern

Piastri's pre-race incident was a red flag. McLaren clearly have a fast car, but reliability concerns mean you should think carefully before committing significant budget to either driver.