McLaren Dominates Australian GP Qualifying with Stunning One-Two Finish

In a spectacular qualifying session at Albert Park, Lando Norris claimed pole position for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, leading a McLaren one-two with teammate Oscar Piastri just 0.084 seconds behind. The British-Australian pairing delivered a masterclass in late-session heroics after both made initial errors in Q3.

Key Qualifying Highlights:

• Norris (1:20.314) edges out home favorite Piastri in dramatic final runs
• Verstappen settles for P3 (+0.385s) after gravel excursion at Turn 9-10 chicane
• Hamilton finishes eighth in first Ferrari qualifying, 0.218s behind Leclerc
• Russell outperforms Mercedes stablemate to take P4
• Six rookies debut with Sauber's Bortoleto (P15) impressing most

Championship Implications

This result marks McLaren's strongest season start since 2012, with both cars starting ahead of reigning champion Verstappen. The British team has clearly closed the gap to Red Bull during winter testing, though race pace remains questionable with rain forecast for Sunday.

Norris' reaction:

"It's the perfect way to start the year. The car is extremely quick but difficult to put together. We know how quick Max and Red Bull are in the rain - tomorrow will be tricky."

Ferrari's Mixed Bag

While Leclerc secured P7, all eyes were on Hamilton's disappointing P8 in his first competitive outing with the Scuderia. The seven-time champion struggled with braking stability throughout the session.

Verstappen's assessment:

"The gap was quite big to McLaren - even a perfect lap wouldn't have changed positions. Wet or dry, I don't mind, but rain brings unpredictability."

Rookie Watch

Haas' Oliver Bearman endured a nightmare debut weekend with multiple practice incidents and a qualifying gearbox failure. The 19-year-old will start last among the six debutants.

Weather Outlook: The Bureau of Meteorology predicts 80% chance of rain during the race, potentially shaking up strategies. Teams will conduct final wet-weather setup tests in Sunday morning's practice.

Grid Summary (Top 10):

1. Norris (McLaren)
2. Piastri (McLaren) +0.084
3. Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.385
4. Russell (Mercedes)
5. Tsunoda (Racing Bull)
6. Albon (Williams)
7. Leclerc (Ferrari)
8. Hamilton (Ferrari)
9. Gasly (Alpine)
10. Sainz (Williams)

Coverage details: Live on BBC Radio 5 Live from 03:30 GMT, with text updates via BBC Sport.