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

Contributor
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
1stLewis HamiltonMercedes1:20.486 
2ndValtteri BottasMercedes1:20.598+0.112
3rdSebastian VettelFerrari1:21.190+0.704
4thMax VerstappenRed Bull1:21.320+0.834
5thCharles LeclercFerrari1:21.442+0.956
6thRomain GrosjeanHaas1:21.826+1.340
7thKevin MagnussenHaas1:22.099+1.613
8thLando NorrisMcLaren1:22.304+1.818
9thKimi RaikkonenAlfa Romeo1:22.314+1.828
10thSergio PerezRacing Point1:2.781+2.295

ELIMINATED IN Q2

Fastest:  Lewis Hamilton, 1:21.014

11thNico HulkenbergRenault1:22.562+1.548
12thDaniel RicciardoRenault1:22.570+1.556
13thAlexander AlbonToro Rosso1:22.636+1.622
14thAntonio GiovinazziAlfa Romeo1:22.714+1.700
15thDaniil KvyatToro Rosso1:22.774+1.760

ELIMINATED IN Q3

Fastest: Charles Leclerc, 1:22.017

16thLance StrollRacing Point1:23.017+1.000
17thPierre GaslyRed Bull1:23.020+1.003
18thCarlos SainzMcLaren1:23.084+1.067
19thGeorge RussellWilliams1:24.360+2.343
20thRobert KubicaWilliams1:26.067+4.050