Charles Leclerc and George Russell’s fight for the lead over the opening laps of the Australian Grand Prix revealed much about how Formula 1’s new power units have changed racing this year.
The pair’s race engineers kept them constantly informed about whether they were close enough to the car ahead to use their Overtake mode, or whether a car behind them was near enough to do the same. Both also had to stay on top of when to deploy the power from their car’s battery and when to save it.
Leclerc went to the grid with concerns he didn’t have enough power in his battery to get off the line well.
“I’m very low,” Leclerc warned his race engineer Bryan Bozzi, asking for information about his team mate Lewis Hamilton. “Let me know if he changes the procedure, let’s be reactive.”
“No change on the procedure, Charles,” Bozzi replied. “Same across cars.”
Meanwhile Russell asked his race engineer Marcus Dudley on the formation lap: “Do I want to try and get this at 100% of the pack now?” He was told: “We’re happy where we are currently.”
Nonetheless Leclerc made the better start and dived down the inside of Russell to take the lead at turn one. “No boost presses,” Dudley warned Russell as they rounded turn five.
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As lap two began, Dudley told Russell he was within the one-second margin of Leclerc which allowed him to use his extra Overtake boost. “Overtake enabled,” said Dudley. “Gap ahead 0.9, Lewis car behind, 2.6.” Drivers received very similar messages last year when they had to get within a second of a car ahead in order to be able to use DRS, which the Overtake mode has replaced.
“Overtake enabled for Russell,” Bozzi warned Leclerc. But he could do nothing to stop Russell passing him as they approached turn 11 on the second lap.
However Leclerc regained the place on the next lap. Russell seemed content to hang behind at this stage, closing to within half a second of Leclerc without passing.
“Let me know if you are happy with lift-and-coast levels,” Russell asked his race engineer at one point. “Increase lift-and-coast turn six to get to the top of the pack,” Dudley replied.
At one point Russell complained Leclerc was positioning his car in a dangerous way as he tried to defend his position while also backing off early as they approached a corner to save energy. “That was very dangerous by Leclerc, especially what we spoke about in briefing,” said Russell, in a message also played on the world television feed.
Leclerc appeared to anticipate Russell’s complaint about the difference in closing speeds between their cars. “For info, this looks fucking scary, but the K is cutting 200 metres before them, so I cannot do much,” he said.
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“Understood, Charles,” Bozzi responded. The stewards decided the incident did not require investigation.
“If you can, saving tyres turn 10, 12,” Bozzi added. Leclerc complied and Bozzi told him: “Good management, well done.”
Russell seized on this opportunity to pass Leclerc into turn one, but ran wide, and the Ferrari driver reclaimed the position at turn three. “Fuck, it’s a big advantage to be second!” remarked Leclerc, who had led most of the race up to this point. “Yes, we know,” replied Bozzi.
Soon afterwards the Virtual Safety Car was deployed. Mercedes called Russell in while Ferrari left Leclerc out, bringing their battle to an end.
This was only the first race of the year and drivers are still exploring how to get the best out of their cars in battles like these. Afterwards Russell commented to Leclerc that he made a mistake by failing to use his Overtake mode at one point, so they are clearly still identifying room for improvement.
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2026 Australian Grand Prix
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