- Lando Norris was joined by McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri on the front row
- World champion Max Verstappen found himself fourth-tenths off the pace
- Lewis Hamilton started competently rather than dazzlingly and had a scare
Lando Norris took pole position for the Australian Grand Prix in a perfect start to the 24-race test of his title credentials.
The Briton, who missed out on the championship to Max Verstappen last year, will be joined by his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri on the front row of the grid.
Verstappen, four-tenths off the pace, starts third in what is forecast to be a rain-hit race at Albert Park.
‘It’s the perfect way to start the year,’ said Norris. ‘What an incredible car. A great job to build on last year. But it is only qualy.’
Norris ran off the track on his first flying lap of Q3, having his time deleted. Piastri also made a mistake early on. Both recovered to assert themselves where their car suggested they ought to be.
George Russell was fourth quickest for Mercedes. Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda was fifth and Williams’s Alex Albon sixth. And then the two Ferraris – oh dear! – with Charles Leclerc seventh best, two-tenths ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
McLaren title hopeful Lando Norris sealed pole position for the Australian Grand Prix
World champion Max Verstappen qualified third, four-tenths off the pace in Melbourne
Lewis Hamilton settled for eighth on his Ferrari debut and suffered a scare during Q2
Talk in the build-up to the first competitive action of 2025 centred on Hamilton’s debut in a Ferrari following his £50m-a-year move into the red corner after 12 seasons at Mercedes.
The team’s paddock hospitality area was besieged by the curious to catch a glimpse of the sport’s most recognisable icon. His practice times did not promise too much as he finished behind teammate Leclerc all weekend.
Hamilton started qualifying competently rather than dazzlingly, again behind Leclerc. He was sixth fastest in both Q1 and Q2, though not without a scare.
Hamilton spun at Turn 11 in the closing moments of the second session, leaving him facing the oncoming traffic. He had done enough, however, to progress into the final chapter of the day’s action under a sweltering sky.
Meanwhile, it was a terrible day for 18-year-old debutant Kimi Antonelli, Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes. He was eliminated in the Q1, in contrast to Russell who was six-tenths quicker.
The Italian is rated a star of the future, but he has it all to prove in Formula One and this was not a morale-boosting beginning for him.
The same could be said for Liam Lawson, making his first appearance in a Red Bull. He was all over the place – mowing over the grass and unable to put in a lap reflective of the strength of his car. He will start 18th – a nightmare debut at a team not renowned for its patience.
Nor was it anything like a dream start for Ollie Bearman in his first full season for Haas. He crashed heavily in first practice, sat out second practice while his car was glued back together, and then pranged again in third practice, this time held up in the gravel.
The Briton, 19, came out for qualifying but did not manage a full lap, complaining over the radio that his car was broken. He will start from the back of the grid.
