Mercedes can't hide anymore; the Russell-Antonelli duo shows their true speed in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix.

Here's how qualifying works in Formula 1 following some minor tweaks made to accommodate Cadillac's entry as the 11th team on the 2026 grid.

As Formula 1's brave new 2026 era starts in Melbourne, here are five quick takeways from Australian Grand Prix qualifying

Qualifying battles between teammates provide a point of intrigue as, over the course of a season, we get to see who's better over one lap.

New qualifying elimination change: With the introduction of Cadillac, there are now 22 cars on the grid, necessitating a modification to the knockout segments. Six drivers are now eliminated at the conclusion of both Q1 and Q2, rather than the previous five, to guarantee only 10 cars reach the final session.