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Massive Supercars smash up as Feeney loses title lead
Broc Feeney was one of three drivers forced to retire in a first-corner crash, as Brodie Kostecki takes the Supercars title lead with victory in Melbourne.
Brodie Kostecki has claimed the Larry Perkins Trophy and Supercars championship lead, after a morning of carnage left Broc Feeney a victim of a massive first-corner pile up.
Kostecki took his third win from four races at Albert Park this weekend on Sunday, after the Dick Johnson Racing star passed pole-sitter Will Brown on the penultimate lap to take the lead.
Thomas Randle held off Jack Le Brocq for third spot, but the story was the mess that that group left behind them in the opening corner of the race.
Incumbent championship leader Feeney was one of three drivers to retire before the field even reached turn two, with at least 10 cars caught up in the collisions.
After Ryan Wood and Kai Allen made contact off the grid, the latter was then tagged by Macauley Jones before the first corner.
Jones went into the back right of Feeney, who lost a wheel and went pin-balling across the track.
Feeney was then collected by Cooper Murray as the 24-year-old tried to take evasive action across the grass, before being ploughed into by Zach Bates.
Behind them, veteran David Reynolds was also spun around by Rylan Gray, ruining both of their races.
Championship contender Matt Payne also passed Randle on the next lap to take third, before his front-right tyre punctured a few corners later and dilapidated quickly to leave the Grove Racing driver back in 20th.
Cameron’s day was also ruined when squeezed into the pit lane by Chaz Mostert, adding to a horror weekend on which he has spun out of contention in each of the first three races.
But for Kostecki, this weekend has been a dream, even with the illness that left the 2023 champion vomiting in his helmet during a flying lap on Thursday.
His best move of the weekend was arguably his last, feigning to overtake Brown at turn 11 on the penultimate lap, forcing the Triple Eight Race Engineering star to lock up.
Kostecki then reacted quickly to swing to the inside and take the lead, making it three victories and a second-place finish for the weekend to win the SuperSeries event.
AAP
Photo gallery: 30 years of cars at Albert Park
Much has been made of the new design and functions of F1 cars for 2026.
Here’s a stroll down memory lane with a look at cars that have raced at Albert Park for each of the 30 years (minus the two-year COVID-induced break) the Australian Grand Prix has been held there.
F1 drivers enjoy fine dining … and a meat tray
F1 is a hungry business and Melbourne’s best restaurants have fuelled the stars of the sport during this year’s Australian Grand Prix.
Newlywed Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc dined at Stokehouse and Maison Batard, while Haas driver Oliver Bearman was also seen at Maison Batard.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly tucked into a good steak at Grill Americano in Flinders Lane.
Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson enjoyed the sophisticated Japanese offerings at Kisume in the CBD.
Valtteri Bottas with the meat tray earlier this week.Credit: Getty Images for Jim Beam
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was spotted at Maha in the CBD’s Bond Street.
Meanwhile, Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas took to social media to shout out about the breakfast at ST. ALi in South Melbourne. Chin Chin was his dining option.
Bottas was also seen handing out trays of snags and cutlets – yes, you read that right – at the Jim Beam Roadhouse pop up in Barkly Street, St Kilda.
He did a “meat and greet” – literally.
Bottas called the numbers in a meat raffle and presented the winners with mixed grill trays at the venue for Jim Beam, a Cadillac team sponsor.
Top tipple at the venue was The Golden Mullet, a cheeky cocktail named by Bottas after his iconic mullet and made with Jim Beam Pineapple, vanilla, lemon and soda.
In pictures: Crowds enjoy the Australian Grand Prix
It’s a sellout crowd at Albert Park and our photographer Eddie Jim is there to snap all the action. Take a look at the images below.
Fans on the way to the track.Credit: Eddie Jim
Start ’em young: A tiny fan with ear protection is ready to enjoy the action.Credit: Eddie Jim
It’s a sellout crowd.Credit: Eddie Jim
Family fun at Albert Park.Credit: Eddie Jim
Eager fans wait for autographs.Credit: Eddie Jim
Albert Park visitor map
By Jamie Brown
If you’re at Albert Park and making your way around the track to enjoy the various things the grand prix has to offer before the grand prix begins, from Supercars to the RAAF Roulettes flyover and top food and drinks trackside, keep this map handy.
Today’s weather
Melbourne’s weather has delivered a pearler for today’s main race. No rain is forecast.
It’s a sunny day at Albert Park, so if you’re heading trackside or enjoying the big screen at Federation Square, make sure to slip, slop, slap.
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2026.
My name is Scott Spits and I’ll bring you all the news from the first grand prix of the season at Albert Park.
Stay with us to enjoy the action.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
