For the first time in 2025, we could finally get a look at the true pecking order as Qualifying got under way for the Australian Grand Prix!
Q1
In Qualifying 1; Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Nico Hulkenberg, Liam Lawson, Esteban Ocon, and Oliver Bearman were the five slowest drivers! It was not the start that Andrea Kimi Antonelli was looking for as he got knocked out of Q1 in his Mercedes whilst Nico Hulkenberg was outqualified by his Rookie teammate in his Kick Sauber debut! Liam Lawson had a very difficult day for Red Bull as the second driver struggles continue whilst Haas had an absolute shocker, with Esteban Ocon setting the slowest time of the session as Oliver Bearman had gearbox issues following his crashes in previous sessions! Lando Norris topped Q1 for McLaren, ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell!
Q2
In Qualifying 2; Isack Hadjar, Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll, Jack Doohan, and Gabriel Bortoleto all failed to make it into the Top 10 shootout! Isack Hadjar can be please with his debut performance for Racing Bulls whilst Aston Martin came home 12th and 13th with Fernando Alonso just ahead of Lance Stroll! Jack Doohan was unfortunate to catch a Yellow Flag at the wrong time whilst Gabriel Bortoleto made a mistake on his final run, but he still had a good day! Norris again topped the session, this time ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri!
Q3
In Qualifying 3, a 1:15.096 was enough for Lando Norris to start the season with a Pole Position! Lando was quickest throughout the session, and he did well to deliver the goods on his final lap! Oscar Piastri will start his Home Race from second as he completed a McLaren 1-2 whilst Max Verstappen managed third for Red Bull! George Russell did well to qualify P4, ahead of Yuki Tsunoda who starred for Racing Bulls, and Alex Albon also did superbly well to finish 6th and over 3 tenths ahead of his new Williams teammate! Whilst the Top 6 were pretty happy, it was not a good day for Ferrari as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton locked out the 4th Row in what was a very disappointing first outing! Pierre Gasly will start 9th after a positive showing with Alpine, whilst Carlos Sainz rounds out the Top 10 in his debut for Williams!
Starting Grid for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix and My Qualifying Grades
Lando Norris: 10
Oscar Piastri: 9
Max Verstappen: 8
George Russell: 8
Yuki Tsunoda: 10
Alex Albon: 10
Charles Leclerc: 5
Lewis Hamilton: 4
Pierre Gasly: 8
Carlos Sainz: 7
Isack Hadjar: 7
Fernando Alonso: 6
Lance Stroll: 6
Jack Doohan: 5
Gabriel Bortoleto: 6
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: 1
Nico Hulkenberg: 3
Liam Lawson: 1
Esteban Ocon: 1
Oliver Bearman: 1
Credit: F1
My Predictions for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix
Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri
Max Verstappen
George Russell
Charles Leclerc
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