F1 2026 Elimination Championship: Round 1 (Australian Grand Prix)

Round 1 of the F1 Elimination Championship!

Here's the basic idea: Imagine if, upon winning the championship, a driver was not allowed to return to F1 at all. Now, take that idea and apply it to 1951 -- removing Farina from each race. Now Fangio wins, so they're both out for '52, etc, etc, until here we are!

This weekend:

A new era begins, and the smallest grid Formula 1 has ever seen kicks off in Albert Park!

Last season's bronze medallist Oliver Bearman gets going with a hard-fought win in the Haas to lead the championship for the first time in his career! It ended up being a pretty close battle for the victory, all things considered, as Arvid Lindblad qualifies third and eventually finishes in P2 on debut! An all-round feel-good podium is completed by Gabriel Bortoleto in the Audi, as he goes back-to-back with the last race of 2025.

The perennial elimination bridesmaids of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon fight over P4 all race long, each one desperate to get rid of their F1 careers. Incidentally, the two of them are the now P1 and P2 in the list of non-champion race wins - a dubious record to hold. Liam Lawson has a shocker of a start from the front row, potentially exposing an issue that drivers will need to contend with at starts this season. Franco Colapinto narrowly avoids smashing into the back of him to ensure a double points finish for Alpine in seventh.

Lance Stroll finishes 14 laps down on the leader and scores nothing as he was not classified. Aston Martin.... do not look good. Lastly, Isack Hadjar enters the season as the nailed-on championship favourite after his promotion to Red Bull due to how unexpectedly close he got to the title at times last year. Unfortunately, Hadjar will once again start a season on the back foot, failing to score as his engine blows from the lead.

All previous historical standings are in my profile!