Australian Grand Prix: Norris holds pole
Clear. Dry. Air +29...30C, highway +40...42C
A good starting position in Melbourne is important, but in 2025, the Australian qualifying was especially interesting - the stage was the first on the calendar and allowed us to evaluate the speed of new cars and the balance of power for the first time in the season.
The Albert Park track does not forgive mistakes, as Haas F1 rookie Oliver Berman recalled - he twice caused red flags in training, losing two out of three sessions and one powerplant.
Liam Lawson also missed Saturday's training session due to problems with the power plant, which were resolved only by qualifying.
The results were solid. Charles Leclair showed the best time on Friday, Oscar Piastri was in the lead in Saturday's practice session, with the results of twelve riders per second behind the leader.
Pirelli has brought a soft three line–up to the stage - C3, C4 and C5 in the role of Hard, Medium and Soft. The softest line-up beat Medium by about half a second per lap and became the main one in qualifying.
In the first session, the Mercedes racers made their first attempt with Medium, while the rest immediately set Soft. On the way out of the pits, Berman complained about the poor operation of the gearbox, turned into the pits and dropped out of the fight.
Lawson flew into the gravel trap of the third turn, causing yellow flags to appear, but avoided contact with the barrier and returned to the track. Antonelli caught gravel in the sixth, damaging the bottom. Lawson flew out onto the grass, ruining the circle.
Norris led the protocol, having completed a lap in 1:15.912, Antonelli, Hulkenberg, Lawson, Okon and Berman, who did not leave, dropped out of the further fight. The results of the 15 riders who continued to fight fit into six tenths.
In the second session, everyone went to Soft. Verstappen immediately set a new record of 1:15.688, but the McLaren drivers were ahead on their first attempt. Duane's lap was cancelled for violating the boundaries of the track.
In the second attempt, the riders improved. Hamilton spun around in Turn 11, but he missed his rivals and continued driving. Norris showed the best time again – 1:15.415. Hajjar, Alonso, Stroll, Duane and Bortoleto did not qualify for the finals.
In the final, Verstappen, Russell, Leclair and Piastri made their first attempt on fresh tires, while the rest drove on flat tires. Norris topped the scoresheet, but the result was annulled, and Verstappen rose to the first place with 1:15.671.
In the second attempt, Norris gained another six tenths – 1:15.096, almost a second faster than last year's pole position.
Lando Norris won qualifying for the first stage of the season in Melbourne, taking the tenth pole of his career. His team–mate Oscar Piastri showed the second time, losing eight hundredths - tomorrow the McLaren drivers will occupy the entire front row of the starting field. Verstappen and Russell will start from the second, and suddenly Tsunoda and Elbon will start from the third.
On Sunday, the forecast promises a rain race.
Qualification results
Pilot
Team
1st session
2nd session
3rd session
M
Time
Kr
M
Time
Kr
M
Time
Kr
1. L.Norris
McLaren
1
1:15.912
8
1
1:15.475
6
1
1:15.096
6
2. O.Piastri
McLaren
5
1:16.062
7
2
1:15.468
5
2
1:15.180
6
3. M.Verstappen
Red Bull
3
1:16.018
5
3
1:15.565
6
3
1:15.481
6
4. D.Russell
Mercedes
2
1:15.971
9
4
1:15.798
6
4
1:15.546
6
5. Yu.Tsunoda
Racing Bulls
7
1:16.225
6
8
1:16.009
6
5
1:15.670
6
6. A.Elbon
Williams
8
1:16.245
9
9
1:16.017
6
6
1:15.737
6
7. Sh.Leclair
Ferrari
4
1:16.029
7
5
1:15.827
8
7
1:15.755
5
8. L.Hamilton
Ferrari
6
1:16.213
9
6
1:15.919
8
8
1:15.973
6
9. P.Gasli
Alpine
11
1:16.328
9
10
1:16.112
6
9
1:15.980
6
10. K.Sainz
Williams
13
1:16.360
9
7
1:15.931
6
10
1:16.062
6
11. A.Hajjar
Racing Bulls
12
1:16.354
6
11
1:16.175
6
12. F.Alonso
Aston Martin
9
1:16.288
8
12
1:16.453
5
13. L.Stroll
Aston Martin
14
1:16.369
9
13
1:16.483
6
14. D. Duane
Alpine
10
1:16.315
9
14
1:16.863
6
15. The city of Bortoleto
Sauber
15
1:16.516
8
15
1:17.520
5
16. K.Antonelli
Mercedes
16
1:16.525
9
17. N. Hulkenberg
Sauber
17
1:16.579
9
18. L. Lawson
Red Bull
18
1:17.094
7
19. E.Okon
Haas
19
1:17.147
9
20. O. Berman
Haas
20
–
1
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