Overview
- George Russell set a 1:18.518 to secure pole in Melbourne, with Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli second after a rebuilt car following his heavy FP3 crash.
- FIA stewards fined Mercedes €7,500 for an unsafe release when cooling-fan parts fell from Antonelli’s car in Q3, triggering a red flag after Lando Norris hit debris.
- Max Verstappen crashed on his first flying lap in Q1 and will start from the rear of the grid after failing to set a time, with permission granted to race.
- Red Bull debutant Isack Hadjar qualified third, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took fourth, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and defending champion Lando Norris lined up fifth and sixth, and Lewis Hamilton qualified seventh for Ferrari.
- Racing Bulls placed both cars in the top 10 as Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto reached Q3 before stopping at pit entry, while Aston Martin and new entrant Cadillac lost both cars in Q1; stewards also cleared Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll to race despite no times.