Summary

  • Lando Norris takes Australian GP pole

  • Oscar Piastri completes all-McLaren front row

  • Verstappen third, Russell fourth, Tsunoda fifth, Albon sixth

  • Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton seventh and eighth

  • Antonelli and Lawson eliminated in Q1

  • Select audio icon above for Radio 5 Live commentary (UK only)

  • Get involved: #bbcf1

Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna

  1. The rest of rookies will be hoping Ollie Bearman's bad luck in Melbourne doesn't rub off. Australian Jack Doohan has been given a set of soft tyres by Alpine and the 20-year-old puts down a 1:19.221 as his opening attempt. The man he replaced at the French team, Esteban Ocon, is also on the C5 rubber and is eight tenths behind in the Haas.

  2. Ferrari edged McLaren for speed

    Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent in Melbourne

    Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc hold microphones in the fan zoneGetty Images

    On race pace, Lewis Hamilton was closer to team-mate Charles Leclerc, about 0.1secs on average over a run, as Ferrari edged McLaren for speed.

    Red Bull appeared to be the fourth quickest car behind Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes, but it was close between the top four and wet weather is expected on Sunday, which will mix things up and is likely to bring Max Verstappen into the fight for victory.

  3. Track clear

    The red flag has been lifted and a queue of cars are waiting to get out of the pit lane. Third practice is back up and running once again.

  4. red flag

    The car, which has already been rebuilt this weekend, has been picked up by the low loader now and is ready to be delivered back to the Haas garage.

  5. red flag

    What a rotten start to his full Formula 1 debut for Oliver Bearman, who was pushing his Haas on a first flying lap, touched one of his left tyres onto the grass and ends up coming to a complete stop in a cloud of dust. The car doesn't look damaged, so there's one plus.

  6. red flag

    Bearman off

    Oliver Bearman crashed on Friday and missed vital running in second practice, so the Briton needed a full session to get up to speed before qualifying.

    He comes out of Turn 10, loses the car and ends up in a gravely mess at the next corner. He's out of the car and walking away.

    Oliver BearmanReuters

  7. The same soft tyre compounds as last year are being used to tackle this semi-permanent street circuit, which is 5.278km long and has four DRS zones. The C3 is the hard, C4 is the medium and the C5 is the red-banded soft tyre. With rain on the way tomorrow, the green intermediates and blue wet-weather tyres are also on hand.

    Bearman is in the gravel already!

  8. Go! Go! Go!

    Ollie Bearman is not hanging around. The Haas driver is the first car to head out on track as final practice goes green.

  9. What is the weather forecast for qualifying?

    Teams are preparing for two very different days at the 5.278km Albert Park circuit.

    Saturday's fight for pole position will be a sunny and warm affair with some light wind.

    On Sunday, however, the temperature drops significantly and the opening race of this 24-race season could be hit with rain.

    Melbourne weatherGetty Images

  10. New day for Bearman

    Oliver Bearman crashes in the HaasGetty Images

    Briton Oliver Bearman is playing catch-up today after his crash out in first practice on Friday. The 19-year-old lost control of his Haas at Turn 10 and was sent sliding down the track and smashed into the wall. Bearman was unhurt in the incident but his car was badly damaged.

    The repair job started instantly at the American-based team but unfortunately for the mechanics, they couldn't get the rookie Bearman out for second practice, leaving him the only driver not to get a time on the board.

  11. Norris and Leclerc quickest on Friday

    Lando NorrisGetty Images

    Formula 1 returned after a three-month slumber to a packed Albert Park for the opening two practice sessions of the 2025 season.

    The first hour saw two red flags - one to clear gravel on track, the other for a hefty shunt for the Haas of Oliver Bearman - and the McLaren of Lando Norris topping the timesheets from the Williams of Carlos Sainz and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Seven different teams made up the top 10 in first practice, with Sainz's effort a standout moment.

    Second practice was free of incidents as Leclerc this time put down the quickest marker on the soft compound. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen aborted his qualifying attempted and ended the hour in seventh place, behind the two Racing Bulls of rookie Isack Hadjar in sixth and Yuki Tsunoda in fourth.

  12. Good morning

    Oscar Piastri takes pictures with fansGetty Images

    Hello again, folks. Melbourne is enjoying lovely early afternoon sunshine while most people in the UK are fast asleep. Gold stars for everyone who has stayed up/woken up to follow along with us today.

    Third practice gets under way at 01:30 GMT.

    Qualifying goes green at 05:00 GMT.

    Full commentary on both sessions is available on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and at the top of this page using the 'listen live' tab. You can also ask BBC Sounds to play Australian Grand Prix followed by the current session via most smart speakers.

  13. Ferrari versus McLaren for pole?

    Charles LeclercGetty Images

    All eyes have been fixed on the blockbuster arrival of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari but it was team-mate Charles Leclerc who set the pace for the Italian team on Friday.

    The Monegasque driver headed the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in second practice as Hamilton continues to get acquainted with his new machinery.

    Leclerc secured pole position and the race win at the Australian Grand Prix in 2022, so can he repeat the same achievement three years later and start his own bid for a maiden drivers' title off on a high?

    One more practice session to complete and then it's full focus on the first qualifying of 2025...