Lewis Hamilton on pole position in Australia

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) won the first pole position of the 2016 season on the Albert Park track in Melbourne, Australia at the end of a qualifying session which delivered its verdict well before the checkered flag due to the new format imposed this year , and which will still require work for the stables.

After the first burst of laps in Q3, the Ferrari de Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen, then 2nd and 3rd and sandwiched between the Mercedes of Hamilton and Rosberg, did not retry a flying lap to save a set of tires for the race, thus leaving Rosberg to move back to the front row behind an untouchable Hamilton, author of his 50th career pole position in 1’23″837 with three tenths ahead of Rosberg and more than eight over Vettel.

However, with no cars on track in the final three minutes, serious questions will undoubtedly be raised in the coming hours. At the end of the first five minutes of Q3, Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) had been the first eliminated, beaten by the sister cars Toro Rosso since Carlos Sainz et Max Verstappen, separated by the Williams of Felipe Massa sixth, finish in 5th and 7th places.

Eliminated at the end of Q2, the Force Indias of Sergio Pérez and Nico Hulkenberg will start in 9th and 10th position in front Valtteri Bottas (Williams), unable to improve his first time in the time necessary in Q2. On the side of Renault, Jolyon Palmer and Kevin Magnussen climbed into Q2, without reaching Q3, just like Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso (McLaren).

The Manor of Pascal Wehrlein and Rio Haryanto were the first to be eliminated in Q1 while the Haas de Gutiérrez and Grosjean were unable to advance to Q2, after coming out on track with bad timing. The Frenchman made no secret of not liking the system of these qualifications. Note that Haryanto will however start from the back of the grid for having caused contact with Romain Grosjean during the last practice session.

Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull), surprise victim of the first part of the session, visibly trapped by this new format, Felipe Nasr (Sauber) and Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) also saw their session interrupted in Q1, the Swede being ahead in the final seconds by the Renault R.S.16 of Jolyon Palmer.

The Australian Grand Prix will begin tomorrow at 6 a.m. French time.

Australian Grand Prix Qualifying Ranking:

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): 1’23″837
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes): 1’24″197
3. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari): 1’24″675
4. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari): 1’25″033
5. Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso): 1’25″434
6. Felipe Massa (Williams): 1’25″458
7. Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso): 1’25″582
8. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull): 1’25″589
9. Sergio Pérez (Force India): 1’25″753
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India): 1’25″865
11. Valtteri Bottas (Williams): 1’25″961
12. Fernando Alonso (McLaren): 1’26″125
13. Jenson Button (McLaren): 1’26″304
14. Jolyon Palmer (Renault): 1’27″601
15. Kevin Magnussen (Renault): 1’27″742
16. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber): 1’27″435
17. Felipe Nasr (Sauber): 1’27″958
18. Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull): 1’28″006
19. Romain Grosjean (Haas): 1’28″322
20. Esteban Gutiérrez (Haas): 1’29″606
21. Rio Haryanto (Manor): 1’29″627
22. Pascal Wehrlein (Manor): 1’29″642