McLaren’s Dominance: A Front Row Lockout Lando Norris delivered a stunning performance in qualifying for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, securing pole position with a lap time of 1:15.096. His McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, followed closely, just under a tenth of a second behind, locking out the front row for McLaren. Defending world champion Max Verstappen qualified third for Red Bull, setting the stage for an exciting race.
Q1 Drama: Bearman’s Gearbox Woes and Lawson’s Struggles The qualifying session began with drama as Haas’ Oliver Bearman, who had missed FP3 due to a crash, reported a gearbox problem shortly after leaving the pit lane, forcing him to retire early. Liam Lawson’s difficult Saturday continued as he struggled with an unfamiliar car and track, ultimately qualifying 18th. Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli also faced issues, damaging his front bib and exiting in 16th. Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Ocon were also eliminated in Q1. At the top of the timesheet, Norris led the session, followed by George Russell and Verstappen.
Q2 Tensions: Norris Leads, Hamilton Spins Verstappen set a strong initial lap time in Q2, but the McLarens proved quicker, with Piastri taking the lead initially. Lando Norris then set a blistering lap time of 1:15.415, securing the top spot. Gabriel Bortoleto had a close call, clattering over the kerbs, while Lewis Hamilton spun his Ferrari, creating yellow flags that impacted several drivers. Isack Hadjar, Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll, Jack Doohan, and Gabriel Bortoleto were knocked out in Q2.
Q3 Showdown: Norris Takes Pole, Verstappen Third In Q3, Piastri ran wide on his first lap, and Norris had his initial lap time deleted for exceeding track limits. Verstappen set a provisional pole time of 1:15.671. In the final runs, Norris delivered a phenomenal lap to take pole, with Piastri securing second place. Verstappen qualified third, followed by Russell, Yuki Tsunoda, Alex Albon, and Charles Leclerc.
Summary:
- Lando Norris secured pole position with a lap time of 1:15.096
- Oscar Piastri qualified second, locking out the front row for McLaren
- Max Verstappen qualified third for Red Bull
- Oliver Bearman retired early in Q1 due to a gearbox problem.
- Lewis Hamilton spun in Q2, impacting several drivers.
- Isack Hadjar was the best-placed rookie, qualifying 11th.
Disclaimer: Qualifying results reflect the session as described and are subject to official FIA confirmation.
| Pos | Driver | Car | Gap | Tyres Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:15.096 | 7 |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.084 | 7 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | +0.385 | 6 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.450 | 7 |
| 5 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | +0.574 | 6 |
| 6 | Alexander Albon | Williams | +0.641 | 6 |
| 7 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.659 | 8 |
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +0.877 | 7 |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +0.884 | 6 |
| 10 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +0.966 | 6 |
| 11 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | – – | 4 |
| 12 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | – – | 5 |
| 13 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | – – | 5 |
| 14 | Jack Doohan | Alpine | – – | 4 |
| 15 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | – – | 5 |
| 16 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | – – | 2 |
| 17 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber | – – | 3 |
| 18 | Liam Lawson | Red Bull Racing | – – | 3 |
| 19 | Esteban Ocon | Haas F1 Team | – – | 3 |
| 20 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team | – – | 1 |
Source: FIA
This article was crafted with assistance from Gemini
