AL HAYAT - Pole-sitter Russell says his Mercedes more go-kart than 'bouncing bus'

The Briton and Mercedes were tipped pre-season as the ones to beat and they lived up to expectations in Melbourne.

Russell led home teammate Kimi Antonelli, with the pair eight-tenths quicker than Red Bull's Isack Hadjar in third.

"I think we knew as a team, or we thought we knew as a team, we had a really good package beneath us," said Russell.

"There's been so much hard work from everyone to deliver this. But I don't think I thought it was this good."

They showed their potential under sweeping new changes to engine and chassis rules, and with the cars smaller and lighter.

"The cars are more agile and you sort of slide them around a bit more, and it definitely is more easy to lock up and sort of run wide, move the rear," added Russell.

"It wasn't easy. Conditions out there today. It was quite windy, quite dusty, but I'm enjoying that.

"It feels more like a go-kart compared to last year. Felt like a bouncing bus, to be honest. Wasn't as fun to drive.

"So I think, you know, there's lots of mixed views on the new rules as a whole, but I do think car regulations for everyone is definitely a step forward."

Russell said however that race starts and pit stops were "a hell of a lot more challenging".

Team chief Toto Wolff was understandably pleased with how the day went.

"We are surprised by the gap, but I am taking it," he said. "When the driver has confidence in the car, this is what you can do."

It was a huge effort by Antonelli and his mechanics to claim second after he crashed heavily in final practice, leaving his car a wreck.

But in a little over two hours it was ready to go again.

"It was a very intense day. But, you know, the mechanics were the heroes, massive thanks to them," said the 19-year-old.

"I was very nervous, very stressed in the session, because at one point it looked like I couldn't make it."

D.Shihri--al-Hayat