Charles Leclerc missed out on victory at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, but the Ferrari star insists he has no regrets about the team’s strategy call that ultimately left him behind the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
The Race
- Leclerc stormed into the lead on Lap 1, battling Russell wheel-to-wheel in a thrilling opening exchange.
- A pivotal moment came on Lap 12 when Isack Hadjar’s RBPT-Ford engine failure triggered a Virtual Safety Car.
- Mercedes double-stacked their drivers, while Ferrari gambled on staying out, expecting a two-stop strategy from their rivals.
- A later VSC from Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac offered no relief, as the pitlane was closed.
Leclerc’s View
- “It was a conscious choice… we thought it was better to wait for another VSC. That’s always a gamble,” Leclerc explained.
- He admitted Ferrari were unlucky but believes Mercedes had the pace advantage regardless.
- On his start: “I had the least issues compared to others, but it was very suboptimal for everybody.”
The Result
- Winner: George Russell (Mercedes)
- 2nd: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 3rd: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
What’s Next
Ferrari now turn their focus to refining start procedures and PU mappings, as Leclerc eyes redemption in the upcoming races.
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