10/03/2026

SPORTS TUESDAY | MAR 10, 2026

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‘Hell of a fight’ Russell trades lead five times with Ferrari’s Leclerc to win chaotic season-opening race

No regrets, says Vasseur Ű BY PHILIP DUNCAN

Ű BY KIERAN JACKSON

FERRARI BOSS Fred Vasseur insists he has “no regrets” about the team’s questionable strategy call at the Australian Grand Prix – insisting they targeted the “optimum option.” Mercedes pitted both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli and saved time by doing so under the virtual safety car on lap 12 while Ferrari, who had Charles Leclerc in the lead and Lewis Hamilton third, kept both their men out. Leclerc did not pit until lap 25 of the 58-lap race while Hamilton only pitted after Russell had overtaken him for the lead on lap 28. Ultimately, Russell won comfortably with Antonelli in second, while the Scuderia had to settle for third and fourth. Hamilton was aghast with the decision during the race – though was more restrained in the media pen afterwards – and Vasseur explained that he did not think Mercedes could go to the end of the race after pitting that early. “I think at this stage of the race, nobody was expecting to do a one-stop,” he told the written media in Melbourne. “We targeted the optimum option, and the optimum was to extend. “Now we’re also a bit surprised with the life in the tyres for Mercedes. But, I think the pace of Mercedes was better than ours. “I have no regret on the strategy,” Vasseur concluded. “With the second VSC, we were a bit unlucky as the pit lane entry was closed when we could have pitted. It is what it is and now we are focusing on the next race. “For the sport this was a very good race. There were some pessimistic comments about this new Formula 1 going into the season and I think today’s race start and then the first ten laps were the most exciting we have witnessed in the past ten years and not just because we were in front! “We can be positive, because we know where we need to improve, even if we know it will be a challenge.” F1 next heads to China, where Ferrari had a disastrous double disqualification last time out. The Scuderia are still searching for their first win since October 2024. – The Independent

had been the meat in a Scuderia sandwich after rocket-launch getaways from Leclerc and Hamilton propelled them each three places to first and third respectively. However, both men fell out of contention when they failed to pit under the VSC. But despite Ferrari’s strategy blunder, there were encouraging takeaways for Hamilton. “There’s no mixed emotions,” said Hamilton, who crossed the line just six tenths behind Leclerc. “I feel great. We got a third and fourth and ultimately Mercedes were quicker than us. “We need to see if stopping would have been better. I definitely thought we should have come in or, at least one of us, to cover the Mercedes. We will look to see what we can do better. “But the team did a great job overall. There are lots of positives to take. A couple of more laps and I would have had Charles, so I know we can be fighting for podiums. “We’re not as fast as Mercedes but we’re right in the fight. We’ve got a lot of work to do to catch them but it’s not impossible.” – The Independent

am feeling incredible. It was a hell of a fight at the beginning. I had some really tight battles with Charles, so I was glad to cross the finish line. It’s been a long time coming to have this car beneath us.” Russell, 28, joined Mercedes when their stranglehold on the sport came to an end. But the Englishman, now in his fourth sea son there, has a car to fight for the biggest prize in motor racing with Mercedes positioning themselves as the team to beat. In the other car, Kimi Antonelli dropped to seventh but finished a comfortable second in the end. “The most important feeling is so much con tentment we feel as a team,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “We had such a long winning stretch after winning eight championships. Then a difficult period. But after a solid one-two, you feel you are fighting for a world title. “Ferrari were strong and in the fight. We have a contest on our hands. But the most contentment is that Mercedes are back.” Indeed in the early laps, Russell

G EORGE RUSSELL declared his Australian Grand Prix victory an “incredible” achievement, following a “hell of a fight” that saw him lay down a significant marker in his world championship campaign. The pole-sitter initially lost the lead to a fast starting Charles Leclerc at the first corner in Melbourne, before the pair engaged in a fre netic early battle, trading positions five times. On the ninth lap, Russell locked up under braking while attempting to overtake Leclerc, but their intense duel was abruptly halted when Isack Hadjar’s engine failed, prompting a Virtual Safety Car deployment. This proved to be the pivotal moment. Russell immediately pitted for fresh tyres, while Ferrari made a critical error by erroneously keeping both Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton out on track. This strategic blunder allowed Russell to emerge with a commanding lead, racing unchallenged to the chequered flag. Reflecting on his triumph, Russell stated: “I

Mercedes’ George Russell (inset) crosses the finish line to win the Australian Grand Prix. – REUTERSPIC

New overtake mode could cause big accident: Norris

Ű BY PHILIP DUNCAN

had bad backs and drivers were complaining about that, but the McLaren drivers said there was no porpoising even though we watched their car and there was. “Everyone’s always looking out for themselves. We’re all selfish in this regard. The truth is last year we had the same engine as them and McLaren did a better job than us and they beat us. “So far we’ve done a better job than them, and that’s just how the game goes.” – The Independent

closing speeds of 30, 40, 50kph, and when someone hits another driver at that speed, you are going to fly and go over the fence and do a lot of damage to yourself and maybe to others and that is a pretty horrible thing to think about.” Russell’s Mercedes team hold an early advantage over their rivals. And when asked if Norris’s remarks are just “sour grapes”, Russell replied: “If he (Norris) was winning, I don’t think he’d be saying the same. “We weren’t happy with how stiff the cars were last year and the porpoising and everyone

boost of speed for a driver to attack a rival who is slowing down to regenerate their battery and thus creating a significant speed difference. And Norris, who said in Melbourne earlier this week that F1 has “gone from the best cars ever made to the worst”, added yesterday: “It is chaos, and we are going to have a big accident, which is a shame because we are driving and the ones just waiting for something to happen and to go quite horribly wrong and that is not a nice position to be in. “Depending on what drivers do, you can have

LANDO NORRIS fears Formula One is on the brink of a “horrible” accident which could put both drivers and spectators at risk. George Russell delivered on his billing as the title favourite with an impressive win at Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Norris opened his championship defence in fifth, a sobering 51 seconds behind Russell, and then took aim at F1’s controversial regulations. A new “overtake” mode affords a sudden

BRIEFS

reacted.” Fonseca, who saved two match points in his second-round victory over Karen Khachanov, beat another seeded player, American Tommy Paul, 6-2, 6-3. Sabalenka, Osaka on collision course, Gauff out ARYNA SABALENKA and Naomi Osaka lined up a fourth-round clash at Indian Wells yesterday as fourth-ranked Coco Gauff retired with a left arm injury. World No. 1 Sabalenka powered past Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 6-1 to book a last-16 meeting with former champion Osaka. Japan’s Osaka, seeded 16th, pounced for a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Camila Osorio to avenge a demor alising first-round loss to the Colombian

the playoff with an electrifying birdie spree over the back nine after trailing Berger by four shots at the turn. “The putt on 11 was a huge bonus for me. That really switched my momentum. Daniel played amazing. This game is so crazy, it’s been crazy for these last cou ple weeks … you just never know what can happen in this game,” Akshay said. Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg finished tied for third alongside Cameron Young.

here last year. They were joined in the fourth round by the Philippines’ rising star Alexandra Eala, who was leading Gauff 6-2, 2-0 when the American retired with a left arm injury. Gauff said the pain “felt like a firework going off inside of my arm, and then my whole arm felt like it was on fire. Sabalenka is chasing a first title in the prestigious ATP and WTA Masters 1000 event after twice coming up empty in the final. Osaka won her first title in Indian Wells in 2018, going on to win the US Open that year in a run that included a victory over Sabalenka. That’s the only meeting to date between the two – who are now both four-time Grand Slam champions. “I’ll have a chance to get a revenge, hopefully,” Sabalenka said.

round and a clash with exciting Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca. After dropping just two games in his second-round opener against Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina, Sinner was caught napping to drop his serve in the opening game. He responded with confidence against a potentially tricky opponent known for producing winners. Sinner quickly recouped the break and grabbed another in the eighth game. “It’s a very tough second match for me,” the Italian said.“He’s a very high-quality player… he had great wins in the past so I’m very happy about today’s performance. I tried to stay solid on the baseline but also a bit more aggressive in the second set,” Sinner said. “It was a tough start for me with a break down but I’m happy how I

Brilliant Akshay snatches victory in playoff AKSHAY BHATIA produced a dazzling charge down the stretch to reel in Daniel Berger before snatching victory in a playoff at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida yesterday. A grip ping final-day duel at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando ended with Akshay pocketing the third PGA Tour title of his career – all via playoffs – on the first sud den death hole. Akshay finished with a closing 3-under 69, to finish tied on 15 under alongside Berger, who shot a final-round 2-under 70 for an aggregate 273. The 24-year-old Akshay had forced

Sinner sets up Fonseca clash

WORLD NO. 2 Jannik Sinner took another step toward a first Indian Wells Masters title yesterday, easing past Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-2 to reach the fourth