The pre season chatter regarding an improved platform from McLaren in 2025 has finally stood the ultimate test. McLaren and Lando Norris have secured pole position for the Australian Grand Prix. In a very narrow finish in P2 came Oscar Piastri who was less than a tenth behind. Vertsappen’s margin to the front was almost 4 tenths suggesting a major difference in eprformance between the two manufacturers. Liam Lawson failed to perform in his full season Red Bull debut finishing in an embrassing P18. To make matters worse, Yuki Tsunoda qualified P5 well ahead of Lawson. The pace disparity may have Red Bull questioning if they made the right choice in second driver.
Mercedes’ George Russell finish 4th place after running at the front during Q1 and Q2 briefly. Of note Williams secured a double top 10 finish with Albon coming in P6 and Sainz in P10. Ferrari lagged behind with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton nver makign a real challenge for pole position.
Qualifying Results
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
|---|
| 1 | 4 | Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:15.912 | 1:15.415 | 1:15.096 | 20 |
| 2 | 81 | Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:16.062 | 1:15.468 | 1:15.180 | 18 |
| 3 | 1 | Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:16.018 | 1:15.565 | 1:15.481 | 17 |
| 4 | 63 | Russell | Mercedes | 1:15.971 | 1:15.798 | 1:15.546 | 21 |
| 5 | 22 | Tsunoda | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:16.225 | 1:16.009 | 1:15.670 | 18 |
| 6 | 23 | Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:16.245 | 1:16.017 | 1:15.737 | 21 |
| 7 | 16 | Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:16.029 | 1:15.827 | 1:15.755 | 20 |
| 8 | 44 | Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:16.213 | 1:15.919 | 1:15.973 | 23 |
| 9 | 10 | Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:16.328 | 1:16.112 | 1:15.980 | 21 |
| 10 | 55 | Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:16.360 | 1:15.931 | 1:16.062 | 21 |
| 11 | 6 | Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:16.354 | 1:16.175 | | 12 |
| 12 | 14 | Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:16.288 | 1:16.453 | | 13 |
| 13 | 18 | Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:16.369 | 1:16.483 | | 15 |
| 14 | 7 | Doohan | Alpine Renault | 1:16.315 | 1:16.863 | | 15 |
| 15 | 5 | Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:16.516 | 1:17.520 | | 13 |
| 16 | 12 | Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:16.525 | | | 9 |
| 17 | 27 | Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:16.579 | | | 9 |
| 18 | 30 | Lawson | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:17.094 | | | 7 |
| 19 | 31 | Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:17.147 | | | 9 |
| NC | 87 | Bearman | Haas Ferrari | DNS | | | 1 |