Australian Grand Prix qualifying results: Lewis Hamilton dashes to pole, Daniel Ricciardo to start 12th

James Pavey

Australian Grand Prix qualifying results: Lewis Hamilton dashes to pole, Daniel Ricciardo to start 12th image

Lewis Hamilton has claimed a record eighth pole position in Australia, and sixth on the bounce at Albert Park.

Hamilton blew away the previous track record in Q2, but went even better in Q3 with a jaw-dropping 1:20.486.

With his eighth pole in Melbourne, Hamilton equalled Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher's single-track records for most poles at one circuit.

Mercedes will enjoy a front-row lockout, with Valtteri Bottas just a tenth down on his teammate's time.

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However, the concern for Ferrari is that third-placed Sebastian Vettel was a whopping seven-tenths down on Hamilton's marker.

A further surprise was that his new teammate Charles Leclerc was pipped by Red Bull's Max Verstappen, whose own teammate Pierre Gasly failed to reach Q2.

It seemed as though Bottas had the measure of his teammate after the first Q3 runs, but Hamilton showed all of his class - and some - to seal his 85th career pole position.

The great surprise was Lando Norris, with the 19-year-old McLaren rookie to start eighth behind Haas pair Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen.

Kimi Raikkonen's maiden outing in Alfa Romeo colours will be from ninth ahead of Sergio Perez.

Meanwhile, Australian fans were given a glimpse of how hard Daniel Ricciardo will have to work in 2019, with Renault unable to break into Q3 with Nico Hulkenberg leading his new teammate in a 11-12 formation.

Q3 went as expected for cellar-dwellers Williams, but Robert Kubica's high-speed blowout scuppered Carlos Sainz's effort, with the Spaniard ending up 18th - a shock after teammate Norris eventually crept into Q3.

 

Lewis Hamilton

2019 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

QUALIFYING RESULTS

Position Driver Car Time Margin
1st Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:20.486  
2nd Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1:20.598 +0.112
3rd Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:21.190 +0.704
4th Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:21.320 +0.834
5th Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:21.442 +0.956
6th Romain Grosjean Haas 1:21.826 +1.340
7th Kevin Magnussen Haas 1:22.099 +1.613
8th Lando Norris McLaren 1:22.304 +1.818
9th Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo 1:22.314 +1.828
10th Sergio Perez Racing Point 1:2.781 +2.295

ELIMINATED IN Q2

Fastest:  Lewis Hamilton, 1:21.014

11th Nico Hulkenberg Renault 1:22.562 +1.548
12th Daniel Ricciardo Renault 1:22.570 +1.556
13th Alexander Albon Toro Rosso 1:22.636 +1.622
14th Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo 1:22.714 +1.700
15th Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 1:22.774 +1.760

ELIMINATED IN Q3

Fastest: Charles Leclerc, 1:22.017

16th Lance Stroll Racing Point 1:23.017 +1.000
17th Pierre Gasly Red Bull 1:23.020 +1.003
18th Carlos Sainz McLaren 1:23.084 +1.067
19th George Russell Williams 1:24.360 +2.343
20th Robert Kubica Williams 1:26.067 +4.050
 

James Pavey

James Pavey Photo