World Champion Lewis Hamilton drew first blood against his team mate Nico Rosberg for the 2015 World Championship with a dominant pole position in Melbourne. The 2014 World Champion was nearly 6 tenths clear of his German team mate who, after a positive Friday, couldn’t get it together when it mattered as he locked up on his first flying lap seeing him go onto the grass at T15.
Post-Qualifying Rosberg admitted that Hamilton had been in “Impressive Form” in qualifying as well as being a bit lack lustre himself. Williams’s driver Felipe Massa will start behind the two Merc's after an impressive Q3 lap to put himself ahead of his team mate and the 2 Ferrari’s.
Massa had made a mistake on his first lap to give the advantage to Ferrari, however his team mate Valtteri Bottas locked up twice on his first run before running wide at the final corner on his second run leaving him 6th which could’ve easily been 3rd. The Fin was also complaining he had back pain and was hurting badly after his final excursion.
Post-Qualifying Rosberg admitted that Hamilton had been in “Impressive Form” in qualifying as well as being a bit lack lustre himself. Williams’s driver Felipe Massa will start behind the two Merc's after an impressive Q3 lap to put himself ahead of his team mate and the 2 Ferrari’s.
Massa had made a mistake on his first lap to give the advantage to Ferrari, however his team mate Valtteri Bottas locked up twice on his first run before running wide at the final corner on his second run leaving him 6th which could’ve easily been 3rd. The Fin was also complaining he had back pain and was hurting badly after his final excursion.
Daniel Ricciardo had a decent quail after what has been a tough weekend for 4 time Champions Red Bull. However Team mate Daniil Kvyat had a poor session after a wiring loom fire meant he only got 1 lap in Q1 but he couldn’t make it into Q3.
Toro Rosso had a good day at Albert Park with Carlos Sainz as he qualified 8th for his first race. The Spaniard had gone for a half spin in Q1 but didn’t let the mistake get to him as he comfortably got through the session. Team mate Max Verstappen was knocked out in Q2 after a mistake on his final run at the exit of T4.
Lotus showed that they were back in the midfield after getting both cars into Q3 for the first time since the Japanese GP in 2013. Romain Grosjean was 9 tenths ahead of team mate Pastor Maldonado showing he hadn’t lost the speed he showed in 2013.
Toro Rosso had a good day at Albert Park with Carlos Sainz as he qualified 8th for his first race. The Spaniard had gone for a half spin in Q1 but didn’t let the mistake get to him as he comfortably got through the session. Team mate Max Verstappen was knocked out in Q2 after a mistake on his final run at the exit of T4.
Lotus showed that they were back in the midfield after getting both cars into Q3 for the first time since the Japanese GP in 2013. Romain Grosjean was 9 tenths ahead of team mate Pastor Maldonado showing he hadn’t lost the speed he showed in 2013.
After a tough weekend for Sauber, with off track problems overlooking their on track performance, Giedo Van der Guarde dropped his legal proceedings to race in Melbourne after failure to gain a super-licence. Marcus Ericsson was knocked out in Q1 and is still yet to get out of the first qualifying session in his career. Whereas Rookie Felipe Nasr was very close to making it into Q3 with an impressive performance for the Brazilian.
Force India were also knocked out in Q2 but their car did show promise of speed and the strategy in the race could see them nick a point providing there reliability holds up. Nico Hulkenberg was able to out qualify his Mexican team mate Sergio Perez by just 0.001 of a second as they lined up 14th and 15th.
It was a dire day for McLaren and Manor as Manor will not race in Australia after software issues meant they couldn’t take part in qualifying and therefore didn’t make the 107% time as they didn’t set a single lap time all weekend.
Force India were also knocked out in Q2 but their car did show promise of speed and the strategy in the race could see them nick a point providing there reliability holds up. Nico Hulkenberg was able to out qualify his Mexican team mate Sergio Perez by just 0.001 of a second as they lined up 14th and 15th.
It was a dire day for McLaren and Manor as Manor will not race in Australia after software issues meant they couldn’t take part in qualifying and therefore didn’t make the 107% time as they didn’t set a single lap time all weekend.
McLaren however will line up on the back row of the grid after a terrible session which confirmed how far behind the new McLaren-Honda partnership is. Jenson Button was able to out qualify his 2014 team mate Kevin Magnussen by 6 tenths. Magnussen is standing in for Fernando Alonso after his crash in testing.
McLaren ended up 6 seconds behind the Mercedes whereas nearest challengers Williams were 1.3 seconds adrift, of what is now being dubbed ‘Formula Mercedes’. But the race tomorrow will be an interesting affair with Hamilton and Rosberg going all out for the win and both Williams and Ferrari’s fighting for the final podium position.
McLaren ended up 6 seconds behind the Mercedes whereas nearest challengers Williams were 1.3 seconds adrift, of what is now being dubbed ‘Formula Mercedes’. But the race tomorrow will be an interesting affair with Hamilton and Rosberg going all out for the win and both Williams and Ferrari’s fighting for the final podium position.
Lights out at 4am UK time. Watch the race live on Sky Sports F1 or extended highlights on BBC One at 1:15
2015 Australian GP Provisional Qualifying Result:-
1. Lewis Hamilton 1:26.327
2. Nico Rosberg
3. Felipe Massa
4. Sebastian Vettel
5. Kimi Raikkonen
6. Valterri Bottas
7. Daniel Ricciardo
8. Carlos Sainz
9. Romain Grosjean
10. Pastor Maldonado
11. Felipe Nasr
12. Max Verstappen
13. Daniil Kvyat
14. Nico Hulkenberg
15. Sergio Perez
16. Marcus Ericsson
17. Jenson Button
18. Kevin Magnussen
Will Stevens
Roberto Merhi
2015 Australian GP Provisional Qualifying Result:-
1. Lewis Hamilton 1:26.327
2. Nico Rosberg
3. Felipe Massa
4. Sebastian Vettel
5. Kimi Raikkonen
6. Valterri Bottas
7. Daniel Ricciardo
8. Carlos Sainz
9. Romain Grosjean
10. Pastor Maldonado
11. Felipe Nasr
12. Max Verstappen
13. Daniil Kvyat
14. Nico Hulkenberg
15. Sergio Perez
16. Marcus Ericsson
17. Jenson Button
18. Kevin Magnussen
Will Stevens
Roberto Merhi