2025 Australian GP Qualifying: Norris secures pole down under

In a thrilling qualifying session at Albert Park, Norris edged out his home-hero teammate, taking pole position for the season-opening 2025 Australian Grand Prix, leading a McLaren front-row lockout ahead of Oscar Piastri. The reigning constructors’ champions lived up to expectations but made it hard for themselves after both drivers struggled on their first Q3 runs. With the pressure on, Piastri delighted his home crowd by briefly going fastest, only to be beaten moments later as Norris delivered a stunning 1:15.096, edging out his teammate by just 0.084s.

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Max Verstappen had initially set the benchmark in Q3, securing provisional pole before Piastri shocked the paddock by going four-tenths faster. However, the Australian’s joy was short-lived as Norris responded with an even stronger lap, denying his teammate a dream home pole. Despite missing out on the front row, Verstappen remained a serious threat for the race, with Red Bull’s race pace expected to be strong.

Behind the top three, George Russell put Mercedes in contention with a solid fourth-place effort, while Yuki Tsunoda impressed for Racing Bulls, securing a strong fifth. With McLaren looking dominant over a single lap and Verstappen eager to fight back, the stage was set for an electrifying season opener at Albert Park.

Ferrari, initially expected to be McLaren’s strongest challengers, struggled in qualifying as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton—making his debut for the Italian team after his high-profile switch from Mercedes—could only manage seventh and eighth, respectively. Hamilton was nearly nine-tenths off Norris’ pole time and two-tenths behind his teammate, having narrowly escaped elimination in Q2 after a spin before advancing to the final session.

Adding to Ferrari’s disappointment, the surprise of the session came from Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda and Williams’ Alex Albon, who delivered outstanding late laps to secure a shock third-row lockout in fifth and sixth. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly took ninth, while Carlos Sainz rounded out the top ten on his Williams debut after being replaced by Hamilton at Ferrari.

While McLaren appears to have the upper hand heading into Sunday’s race, changing weather conditions could shake up the order. With rain in the forecast for Melbourne, their advantage could be erased, opening the door for an unpredictable and chaotic season opener.

Australian GP Qualifying Results

2025 Australian Grand Prix Qualifying, 15 March 2025

Antonelli and Lawson Knocked Out in Q1 as Bearman’s Struggles Continue

Andrea Kimi Antonelli suffered a disappointing early exit on his Mercedes debut, qualifying 16th after damaging his car in Q1. The Italian teenager had shown promise in practice but ran into a gravel trap, damaging his floor and losing crucial pace. In the closing moments, fellow rookie Gabriel Bortoleto edged him out, sealing Antonelli’s fate.

Liam Lawson also endured a tough qualifying session, struggling for pace on his first Q1 run before making mistakes on his second and third attempts, ultimately leaving him 18th on the grid. The Red Bull driver had limited preparation time after a power unit issue in final practice, making his early elimination even more frustrating.

Oliver Bearman’s nightmare debut weekend continued as a gearbox failure prevented him from setting a time in Q1. The Haas rookie had already endured a crash in FP1, missed FP2 due to car repairs, and beached his car in the gravel during FP3, leaving him with just 40 minutes of track time before qualifying. As a result, Bearman would start from the back of the grid for Sunday’s race.

2025 Australian Grand Prix Starting Grid

The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Australian Grand Prix Qualifying session.