Australian GP: Lando Norris seals pole position in season opener with reigning champion Max Verstappen third

McLaren claim one-two in qualifying after Piastri grabs second while Hamilton will start eighth on his Ferrari debut

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Second placed qualifier Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren Pole position qualifier Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren and 3Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on March 15, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Getty Images / Getty Images)

McLaren's British driver Lando Norris will start the first race of the 2025 season at the front of the grid after securing pole position in qualifying. Getty Images

McLaren's Lando Norris on track at Albert Park in Melbourne. Norris finished 0.084 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri in qualifying Getty Images

McLaren's Lando Norris is congratulated by Mercedes driver British driver George Russell after sealing pole position. AFP

Lando Norris, pictured on the track in Melbourne, finished second in last year's drivers' championship behind Max Verstappen. Getty Images

Lando Norris said securing a McLaren one-two in qualifying was 'the perfect way to start the year'. AP

World champion Max Verstappen finished 0.385secs off the pace and will start third on the grid in his Red Bull. Reuters

Lewis Hamilton will start his first race for Ferrari eighth on the grid in Melbourne. Reuters

Mercedes' British driver George Russell will start fourth on the grid at Albert Park. AFP

Lando Norris took pole position for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after he edged out McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

Norris saw off Piastri's challenge by just 0.084 seconds as McLaren secured an impressive front-row lockout in Melbourne.

World champion Max Verstappen finished a distant third with Mercedes' George Russell fourth. RB's Yuki Tsunoda took a surprise fifth, one place ahead of Williams' Alex Albon.

It was a disappointing afternoon for Ferrari with Charles Leclerc only seventh, one place ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton who will line up from eighth position for his Ferrari debut. Hamilton was 0.877 sec adrift of Norris.

Following on from their constructors' championship triumph last season, and a strong pre-season test in Bahrain last month, McLaren had been considered by their rivals as the team to beat. And the British team delivered with an ominous showing.

Norris' first lap in the crucial Q3 session was deleted for exceeding track limits while Piastri was only fourth in the order after he ran wide at the final corner.

A scrappy start for the McLaren duo left Verstappen holding the advantage at the top of the pile before the final runs.

But Piastri bounced back first to take provisional top spot, to the delight of the home crowd, only for Norris to bump him down to second. Norris finished almost four tenths clear of Verstappen.

“Not a bad way to start the year,” said Norris over the radio. “Amazing work all winter, let's keep it up.”

Later, he added: “As much as we want to dominate, and have a result like we just had, it was not our expectation to have that gap to the others.

“We know we have a good car. Everyone has done an incredible job to improve in as many areas as possible. We are going in with one target tomorrow, which is to be at the top, and have two cars at the top.”

Rain is forecast for Sunday's race, and Norris added: “It will not be easy. We did some wet running here a couple of years ago and it tests you. I am excited, nervous at the same time, but we know we have a good car and we have to keep our heads down.”

Hamilton's move from Mercedes to Ferrari has been the major talking point ahead of the new campaign as the 40-year-old British driver targets a record eighth title.

Hamilton spun on the exit of Turn 11 in the concluding moments of Q2 to leave him facing the wrong way. He escaped the drama without damage and was able to make it back to his garage before returning for the final phase.

But Hamilton has not been able to match Leclerc's speed all weekend and finished more than two tenths behind the Monegasque with Ferrari failing to impress.

Kimi Antonelli's maiden qualifying session as an F1 driver ended at the first hurdle after he failed to progress into Q2.

The 18-year-old Italian looked on the edge throughout and his best effort was eclipsed by fellow rookie Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber to leave him 16th.

He will start two places clear of Red Bull's Liam Lawson, who ran off the track on multiple occasions on a scrappy afternoon for the New Zealander.

Ollie Bearman will start last following a poor weekend for the British teenager.

Bearman, 19, crashed of out of first practice, leaving him unable to take part in the day's second running. He then beached his Haas in the gravel on his first lap in practice on Saturday. Bearman attempted to qualify but complained his car was broken and did not set a time.