OFFICIAL GRID: Who's where as rain threatens and Oliver Bearman starts from Melbourne pit lane

McLaren may have dominated Qualifying in Australia, but with some surprise names in a tight Q3 pack behind them – and a wet race in prospect – it’s going to be a fascinating start to the first Grand Prix of 2025.

Lando Norris deprived the local fans of an Aussie driver on pole, as he pipped team mate Oscar Piastri to P1, and World Champion Max Verstappen put Red Bull third – a full 15 places up on his new partner, Liam Lawson.

REPORT: Norris storms to pole position for the Australian Grand Prix ahead of Piastri and Verstappen

It was a similarly big split at Mercedes, with George Russell fourth to rookie Kimi Antonelli’s 16th, while Yuki Tsunoda and Alex Albon starred for Racing Bulls and Williams with a stunning P5 and P6 respectively.

The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton start a disappointing eighth and ninth, as Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and the second Williams of Carlos Sainz complete the top 10 on the grid.

What of the other rookies you ask? Isack Hadjar is a very respectable 11th for Racing Bulls, Gabriel Bortoleto out-qualified Kick Sauber team mate Nico Hulkenberg for P15, and Oliver Bearman starts from the pit lane after Q1 technical issues and pre-race set-up changes on his Haas.

FORMULA 1 LOUIS VUITTON AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2025Australia 2025
Starting Grid

Position	Team Name	Time
1	Lando NorrisNORMcLaren	1:15.096
2	Oscar PiastriPIAMcLaren	1:15.180
3	Max VerstappenVERRed Bull Racing	1:15.481
4	George RussellRUSMercedes	1:15.546
5	Yuki TsunodaTSURacing Bulls	1:15.670
6	Alexander AlbonALBWilliams	1:15.737
7	Charles LeclercLECFerrari	1:15.755
8	Lewis HamiltonHAMFerrari	1:15.973
9	Pierre GaslyGASAlpine	1:15.980
10	Carlos SainzSAIWilliams	1:16.062

Position

Time

1

NOR

1:15.096

2

PIA

1:15.180

3

VER

1:15.481

4