Double world champion Max Verstappen claimed pole on Saturday for the Australian Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.
Double world champion Max Verstappen claimed pole on Saturday for the Australian Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, but his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez had a torrid time and will start last.
In overcast and cool conditions, Lewis Hamilton in the other Mercedes was third ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in a tight session that went to the wire.
Last year’s winner Charles Leclerc came seventh in the Ferrari, with his team-mate Carlos Sainz fifth.
Lance Stroll in the other Aston Martin will start sixth ahead of Leclerc with Williams’ Alexander Albon a shock eighth.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was ninth with Nico Hulkenberg in a Haas rounding out the top 10.
The race will start at 07:00 (SA time).
STARTING GRID FOR SUNDAY’S AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX:
Front row
Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)
George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)
2nd row
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes)
3rd row
Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari)
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes)
4th row
Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)
Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes)
5th row
Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari)
6th row
Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull)
7th row
Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari)
8th row
Nyck de Vries (NED/AlphaTauri-Red Bull)
Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes)
9th row
Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari )
Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes)
10th row
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari )
Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull)
