MELBOURNE: Mercedes has revealed its dominant hand during qualifying for Sunday’s Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.
George Russell earned his ninth-career pole position Saturday ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli for the team’s 83rd front-row lockout and its first since the 2024 British Grand Prix.
Russell topped all three sessions in F1’s knockout qualifying format, finally casting aside questions of where Mercedes team was in the new-era pecking order. His pole time, at 1 minute, 18.518 seconds, was almost eight-tenths faster than the nearest non-Mercedes challenger, Red Bull rookie Isack Hadjar, who completed the top three.
“It was a great day, we knew there was a lot of potential in the car, but until we get to this first Saturday of the season, you never know,” Russell said. “But it really came alive this afternoon, especially when the track temperatures cooled, we know we tend to favor those conditions.”
Antonelli was relieved to have made it onto the front row alongside his teammate after a crash in final practice at the exit of turn two meant it was a race in the Mercedes garage to get him out for qualifying.
“It’s been a very stressful day. Unfortunately, I went into the wall (in FP3),” he said. “But the guys (in the garage) were the heroes today to put the car back on track.”
Hadjar was impressive by qualifying third on debut for Red Bull, his highest-ever grid position.
“The only thing I can do is take them at the start, but they’re just too fast at the moment,” Hadjar said of Mercedes. “I want to keep my position and a second podium would be cool.”
Ferrari showed it’s neck-and-neck with McLaren on pace, with just one and a half tenths seconds covering the four drivers just beyond the top-three — with Charles Leclerc qualifying fourth, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in fifth and sixth respectively, and Lewis Hamilton in seventh.
Racing Bulls showed they’ve taken a step forward over the winter, with New Zealander Liam Lawson eighth ahead of his highly-rated rookie teammate Arvid Lindblad.
The big surprise of the session came from four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen, who triggered red flags at Melbourne’s Albert Park after he lost control of his Red Bull car in braking for turn one in the first half of Q1 and ended in the barriers.
The Dutchman, who was unhurt from the crash, though upset that his brakes locked up, will now start from the back of the grid.
F1 heads into a new era this year, with unprecedented changes across the chassis (car) and power unit, which now feature an almost 50:50 output split between the turbo 1.6-liter V6 engine and electrical energy harvested from the brakes, one that requires a new, often counterintuitive driving style from the drivers.
Russell, Antonelli lead Mercedes in one-two qualifying positions for F1’s Australian GP
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Russell, Antonelli lead Mercedes in one-two qualifying positions for F1’s Australian GP
- Russell topped all three sessions in F1’s knockout qualifying format, finally casting aside questions of where Mercedes team was in the new-era pecking order
LIV Golf announces return to Korea in 2026
- Home favorites Korean Golf Club lead the field as Bryson DeChambeau and his Crushers GC team return to defend their LIV Golf Korea individual and team titles
BUSAN: LIV Golf today confirmed its return to Korea in 2026, with LIV Golf Korea set to be played at Asiad Country Club in Busan from May 28-31, 2026.
Marking a new chapter for the league in Asia, the 2026 event will introduce Asiad Country Club to the LIV Golf calendar in a multi-year agreement with the venue. Located in Korea’s second-largest city, the course has previously hosted international tournaments, including the BMW Ladies Championship and the 2002 Asian Games, and is regarded as one of the country’s finest championship venues.
Scott O’Neil, CEO of LIV Golf, said, “Bringing LIV Golf back to Korea, and to Busan for the first time, is an important next step for the league and for our fans here. The appetite for LIV Golf continues to grow, and Asiad Country Club and the city of Busan give us a venue that meets our ambitions for the event, both competitively and culturally in Korea. We’re excited to build on the momentum from our debut last season and deliver another memorable week for Korean fans.”
Fans can join the waitlist now at LIVGolf.com to secure tickets for LIV Golf Korea 2026, with hospitality and grounds pass details to be announced soon. Fans are encouraged to join the waitlist early, with limited inventory available. Premium hospitality and corporate experiences will be available for purchase, alongside specialty-priced group tickets for parties of 10 or more. Children aged 12 and under will receive complimentary Grounds Pass admission (one per paying adult).
LIV Golf made its debut in Korea in 2025, where Bryson DeChambeau claimed the individual title and led his Crushers GC to a team victory, completing a memorable double sweep. DeChambeau will return in 2026 to defend his title against a world-class field featuring many of the biggest names in the game, including former Ryder Cup star Anthony Kim, who recently beat DeChambeau and Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm in dramatic fashion to claim the LIV Golf Adelaide individual title, his first professional win in nearly 16 years.
Home attention will center on Korean Golf Club, featuring an all-Korean lineup led by captain Byeong Hun An alongside Minkyu Kim, Younghan Song and Danny Lee. Formed in 2026, the team has already found momentum both on and off the course, securing domestic partners including HANWHA PLUS and apparel partner AMAZINGCRE. Backed by strong local support, Korean Golf Club brings its own distinct brand of K-golf to the LIV Golf league, reflecting the culture, energy and growing influence of the game in Korea around the world.
An, captain of Korean Golf Club, said: “Playing LIV Golf in Korea means a great deal to all of us. Competing at home, in front of Korean fans, brings a different level of pride. As a team, we’re excited to represent Korean golf on this stage and around the world, and we’re excited to show the energy, passion and competitiveness that define the way Korean Golf Club plays the game.”
A city known for its vibrant culture, energy, and iconic coastline, Busan will host LIV Golf for the first time, again expanding the league’s reach through its 14-event calendar taking place across 10 countries and five continents.
Park Heong-joon, mayor of Busan Metropolitan City, said, “We are proud to welcome the LIV Golf League back to Korea and to host the event in Busan for the first time this May. Bringing a global sporting event of this scale to our city reflects Busan’s growing role as an international destination for sport, culture and tourism. We look forward to welcoming players, fans and visitors from around the world and showcasing the hospitality of Busan.”
As with last year’s event, which featured headline music acts including G-Dragon and IVE, the LIV Golf Korea experience will extend beyond the course, combining world-class competition with live music and unrivalled off-course entertainment. Details of the full concert and entertainment program will be announced soon.
The announcement of LIV Golf Korea 2026 marks the final event to be unveiled for LIV Golf’s 2026 season. The global golf league will host 14 events across 10 countries and five continents during the 2026 season, including its first-ever event in South Africa (March 19–22), alongside stops in Saudi Arabia, Adelaide, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mexico, Spain, the US, and the UK.
Notably, LIV Golf has already broken attendance records at LIV Golf Adelaide 2026, drawing more than 115,000 fans across the four-day tournament, including a single-day crowd exceeding 38,500 spectators, both new highs for the league and for professional golf events in Australia.
