MELBOURNE, Australia – McLaren had a perfect start to the 2025 Formula One season. Britain’s Lando Norris took pole position for the Australian Grand Prix, with his teammate, Australian Oscar Piastri, right beside him in second place. The home crowd cheered as McLaren locked out the front row.
“Best start of this year!” Norris said. But he warned that the race could be difficult.
Weather Could Change Everything
Saturday’s qualifying took place in hot weather, with temperatures over 30°C. But Sunday’s race might be different, as rain is in the forecast. This could shake up strategies and create surprises.
Ferrari Struggles in Qualifying
McLaren was strong, but Ferrari had a tough session. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, in his first race for Ferrari, qualified eighth. His teammate Charles Leclerc will start seventh.
“As soon as we pushed harder, the car felt inconsistent,” Leclerc said. “It has potential, but we need to find the right setup.”
Hamilton remained positive despite the challenges. “It’s not what we wanted, but we’ve made progress over the last two days.”
Red Bull’s Mixed Results
Defending champion Max Verstappen qualified third, despite struggling earlier in the weekend. “We had some issues, but today I felt good in the car,” he said.
His new Red Bull teammate, Liam Lawson, had a disappointing session and will start 18th.
Other Qualifying Highlights
- Mercedes: George Russell starts fourth, aiming for a strong result.
- Racing Bulls: Yuki Tsunoda impressed with fifth place.
- Williams: Alexander Albon continued his good form, qualifying sixth.
- Alpine: Pierre Gasly starts ninth, with teammate Jack Doohan in 14th.
- Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will start 12th and 13th.
- Rookie Debuts: Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) will start his first-ever F1 race in 16th place.
Hadjar’s Strong Debut but Frustrated
French rookie Isack Hadjar will start 11th for Racing Bulls, ahead of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. Even though he performed well, Hadjar was unhappy with his final lap. “I’d have taken P11 before the session, but I know I could have done better,” he said.
Full Qualifying Results
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:15.096
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:15.180
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:15.481
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:15.546
- Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) – 1:15.670
- Alexander Albon (Williams) – 1:15.737
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:15.755
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:15.973
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine Renault) – 1:15.980
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 1:16.062
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 1:16.175
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 1:16.453
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 1:16.483
- Jack Doohan (Alpine Renault) – 1:16.883
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber Ferrari) – 1:17.520
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:16.525
- Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber Ferrari) – 1:16.579
- Liam Lawson (Red Bull) – 1:17.094
- Esteban Ocon (Haas Ferrari) – 1:17.686
- Oliver Bearman (Haas Ferrari) – No time
What to Expect in the Race
With rain possible, the Australian Grand Prix could be unpredictable. McLaren’s strong starting positions give them an advantage, but Verstappen and others will be ready to challenge them.
Source: Yahoo Sports
