Melbourne, Australia — Mexican driver Sergio Pérez returned to Formula 1 on Saturday, finishing 16th in the Australian Grand Prix in his debut with the Cadillac team.
The race at Albert Park Circuit was won by George Russell of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, followed by his teammate Kimi Antonelli. Charles Leclerc of Scuderia Ferrari completed the podium after remaining competitive throughout much of the event.
The Grand Prix saw multiple retirements, with six drivers failing to finish. Among them were Pérez’s teammate Valtteri Bottas due to an engine failure, as well as Isack Hadjar of Red Bull Racing and Oscar Piastri of McLaren, who were among the day’s biggest disappointments.
Ferrari opted for a two-stop strategy for Leclerc, extending his stint on medium tires and finishing on hard compounds, though Mercedes’ pace was enough to maintain control of the race and secure a 1-2 finish for the German team.
Further back in the standings, reigning world champion Lando Norris finished fifth, while Max Verstappen climbed from 20th to sixth. Rookie Arvid Lindblad with Racing Bulls and Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto with Audi also finished within the top 10.
Although he finished near the back of the field, Pérez completed the race and showed strong tire management with long stints on hard, medium, and soft compounds. The next event on the calendar is the Chinese Grand Prix 2026, scheduled for Shanghai International Circuit.
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