Mercedes magic and fast-starting Ferraris – What To Watch For in the season opener in Australia
Chris Medland picks out five key things to keep an eye on when the lights go out for the season opener at Albert Park in Melbourne.

.webp)
From Mercedes drivers fighting from the front row to balancing first lap aggressiveness, and from Max Verstappen charging up from the back to reliability challenges, here are five things to look out for as we get a new era of racing underway in Melbourne…
1. A Silver Arrows battle
A year ago it was McLaren who were eyeing a season-long battle between their drivers for the championship, with both starting on the front row in Melbourne. Could that now be the case for Mercedes after George Russell beat Kimi Antonelli to pole position?
Next Up
Related Articles
Stella reflects on McLaren's US GP after missing podium
When is the earliest Antonelli could win the title?
Russell struggling with 'difficult' operating window – Wolff
What the teams said – Race day in the United States
Norris admits McLaren are 'just not quick enough'
BettingWhy F1 fans should avoid emotional bets in Austin
