Lando Norris snatches pole as McLaren resurgent in qualifying for Australian Grand Prix
MELBOURNE–It will be an all-McLaren front row to start the 2025 Formula One World Championship season in Melbourne, as Englishman Lando Norris frustrated local fans by edging out Australian teammate Oscar Piastri.
The margin between the two McLarens was just over eight-hundredths of a second as Norris secured his tenth pole position in Formula 1, returning to where he left off in the 2024 season finale at Abu Dhabi.
"It’s the perfect way to start the year," said Norris.
"A huge congratulations to the team, everyone at McLaren has done an amazing job to continue from where we were at the end of last season, with another front row lockout – but it’s only quali, so we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves."
"We know it’s going to be a tricky race tomorrow, but we’ve got two cars in the best positions."
With a worsening forecast for Sunday in Melbourne, drivers, teams, and fans will be keeping one eye on the radar heading into the grand prix.
“I'm confident in the car’s pace, but we've also never run in the wet, and our competition is very strong," said Norris.
"There will be many opportunities for everyone tomorrow, and we’re all going to be learning a lot – so let’s wait and see what happens.”
Ollie Bearman's horrible weekend continued in qualifying, with the Haas driver unable to go out on track at all after a gearbox issue. After his crashes in Free Practice 1 and 3, he will go into the Grand Prix having not completed a single lap around the Albert Park circuit.
Following him out in Q1 were Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg, as well as the shock exits for Red Bull driver Liam Lawson and Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The pressure will soon be on Lawson to perform as the team hopes to resume their battle for the constructors' championship against McLaren.
Gabriel Bortoleto, Lance Stroll, and Isack Hadjar joined Australia's second F1 hope Jack Doohan in leaving in Q2, while the timing board began to light up with super quick times from leaders Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen, who alongside George Russell all dropped below the 1:16 mark.
Doohan will start 14th on Sunday in his debut for Alpine.
In Q3 it was Max Verstappen who set the early pace, before Oscar Piastri led the field around for their final attemps.
Piastri sent a massive cheer around the record crowd of more than 136,000 as he went on provisional pole, but his time was instantly felled by teammate Lando Norris with a lap of 1:15.096, which could not be beaten throughout the remaining attempts.
"It's great to start the year on the front row," said the Aussie.
"It’s brilliant to have both of us there, of course it may be one position further back than I would have liked, but it’s a good way to go into the first race of the year."
"Overall, I am happy with how qualifying went and we’ve got solid pace in the car. We’ll just have to see how it all plays out with the weather tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.”
Rain is currently forecast throughout the afternoon, ending shortly before lights out for the 2025 Formula One season at 3.00pm AEDT.
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