Oscar Piastri topped closing observe for McLaren on the Australian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton was solely eighth forward of his Ferrari qualifying debut.
The highest groups appeared intently matched within the closing 60 minutes of observe on the opening spherical of the Method 1 season, but it surely was Piastri, looking for to win his dwelling race for the primary time, who topped the timesheet with a 1:15.921.
That put the Australian simply 0.039s away from Mercedes’ George Russell, with reigning world champion Max Verstappen additionally inside a tenth of a second of the main time for Crimson Bull.
Piastri’s team-mate Lando Norris additionally possessed sturdy tempo however was solely tenth after bailing out within the closing sector of a lap that appeared set to place him no less than within the high three.
Ferrari had appeared on Friday to be McLaren’s most probably challengers however had been out of kinds as Friday’s pace-setter Leclerc might solely handle fourth, ending 0.267s again from Piastri as he complained of an excessive amount of oversteer.
Oscar Piastri was quickest for McLaren in closing observe
Hamilton was much less vocal over group radio however appeared to expertise related struggles as he blew a closing qualifying simulation within the closing moments of the session with an error within the first sector, leaving the seven-time world champion nearly half a second off the tempo in eighth.
Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli – Hamilton’s alternative at Mercedes following his blockbuster transfer to Ferrari – produced a strong displaying to assert fifth.
Williams cemented their standing because the midfield squad most probably to problem the established high 4 groups in qualifying as Carlos Sainz edged out team-mate Alex Albon for sixth.
Whereas Verstappen, who’s chasing a fifth successive drivers’ title, confirmed important enchancment having struggled on Friday, his new team-mate Liam Lawson was on observe for simply two laps earlier than an influence unit situation ended his session early.
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Craig Slater rounds-up the very best of the motion you will have missed from Friday’s observe on the Australian Grand Prix.
British rookie Oliver Bearman continued a nightmare begin to his first full season in F1 as a second accident in as many days left him vastly below ready for qualifying.
Bearman, who missed all of second observe on Friday after damaging his automotive with an enormous crash within the opening session, this time spun his Haas right into a gravel entice after dipping a wheel onto the grass on his method to Flip 11.
Whereas the automotive appeared to keep away from any main injury from the incident and ought to be prepared for qualifying, Bearman has been capable of take part in simply 40 minutes of the three hours of observe.
Sky Sports F1’s live Australian GP schedule
Saturday March 15
- 4.15am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up*
- 5am: AUSTRALIAN GP QUALIFYING*
- 7am: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book*
7.30am: Australian GP Qualifying Replay* (9am on Sky Showcase) - 9.55pm: F3 Function Race*
Sunday March 16
- 12.25am: F2 Function Race*
- 2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
- 4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*
- 6am: Australian GP response: Chequered Flag*
- 7am: Ted’s Pocket book*
- 7.55am: Australian GP race replay
- 10am: Australian GP highlights (additionally on Sky Showcase)
- 7pm: Villeneuve Pironi – Racing’s Untold Tragedy
*Additionally on Sky Sports activities Essential Occasion
Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Method 1 season dwell on Sky Sports activities F1, beginning with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
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