Q1 Report:
Qualifying started with a gearbox problem for Ollie Bearman’s Haas. The rookie just can’t seem to catch a break this weekend! The second rookie that’s had some trouble is Liam Lawson, who had locked up and ran into the gravel with 6 minutes left of Q1. Yet another newbie to Formula One is Kimi Antonelli, who also seemed to have something wrong with the car, with sparks flying excessively from the back of his Mercedes. On another note, Lando Norris had set the fastest time early on, 1:15.912, and no one was able to beat it, though George Russell came quite close.
Q1 has come to a close, and the five drivers eliminated were Antonelli, Hulkenberg, Lawson, Ocon, and Bearman, who wasn’t able to set a time due to a failed gearbox. The second Kick Sauber of rookie Bortoleto just made it to Q2, going 15th fastest. Meanwhile, everyone at Red Bull will be wondering what has gone wrong with Liam Lawson after his teammate Verstappen was third fastest.
Q2 Report:
Max Verstappen set the pace for Q2, with a time of 1:15.688, proving that the Red Bull still has some qualifying pace. However, it didn’t last long after the home here Oscar Piastri took to the top of the timesheets with an impressive lap. Also to note, Ferrari doesn’t seem to be on top of their pace so far today, with both of their drivers sitting fifth and sixth, just ahead of both Racing Bulls. Most cars came back out on the track again with 3 minutes left to go, so positions could still change. Lewis Hamilton, who stayed out when the rest of the cars had gone into the garage, had a spin, briefly causing yellow flags before re-positioning his Ferrari. Luckily for him, that didn’t impact his result in Q2, and he will make it through to Q3, along with his teammate.
We’re now to Q3, with Norris and Piastri sitting at the top in first and second. The drivers eliminated are Hadjar, Alonso, Stroll, Doohan, and Bortoleto, and the Kick Sauber rookie had an impressive save during a lap to stop his car from careening into the barriers.
Q3 Report:
Lando Norris set the first fastest time in Q3 before getting that time deleted for track limits. Then, in rapid succession, Leclerc, Russell, and Verstappen topped the timesheets, with the reigning world champion ending up on top. Both Piastri and Norris were first to come out again with 3 minutes left to go, and this time the pressure is on. Piastri dethroned Verstappen before Norris set the fastest lap to come out with pole position.
And that wraps up the first Qualifying Session of the 2025 season, with Lando Norris in pole position and Oscar Piastri coming in second for a McLaren front-row lockout. Max Verstappen proved he has never left the fight with a P3, and Russell finished out the second row for Mercedes. Tsunoda had an impressive result with Racing Bulls, finishing P5, as did Alex Albon, in P6. The two Ferrari drivers will be wondering what went wrong after Leclerc and Hamilton ended up in seventh and eight, respectively. Pierre Gasly managed ninth position for Alpine, and Carlos Sainz rounded out the top ten ahead of his first race as a Williams driver.
Click here to see complete qualifying results for the Australian Grand Prix and stay in the know ahead of the first race of the season.
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