Mercedes set gold standard at Australian GP but new F1 rules 'suck'

AFP Sport looks at what we learned from the opening race of the 24-stop calendar: - Mercedes set standard - Mercedes came into the Melbourne race as the pre-season favourites and lived up to the billing. After a front-row lockout in qualifying, pole-sitter Russell weathered an early battle with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc to claim a statement victory over teammate Kimi Antonelli. Russell called the win "very sweet" and team chief Toto Wolff is confident they have a package that can challenge for the drivers' and constructors' world title.