Australian Grand Prix qualifying

Summary

Hamilton on pole, Bottas 2nd, Vettel 3rd
Big gap from Hamilton to Vettel - seven tenths of a second
Brit Norris 8th for McLaren
Get involved #bbcf1

Live Reporting

Niamh Lewis

'The team worked to perfection'published at 07:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
Lewis Hamilton, who is on pole position: "I'm shaking, what a beautiful day and thank you to the crowd for a great atmosphere.
"The team had no idea during testing where we would be and they've worked so hard in the factory and here this weekend - the team have worked to perfection.
"Congratulations to Valtteri [Bottas] also. It's great to see the top six teams top within a second of each, it's great to see."
Image source, Getty Images
Mercedes on toppublished at 07:04 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live
It's a huge gap that Mercedes have to the rest of the field and it turns out Ferrari weren't sandbagging.
My driver of the day, is Lando Norris eighth position in that McLaren.
Lewis Hamilton is on polepublished at 07:02 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
And they've claimed a front row lockout, with Valtteri Bottas next to him.
Image source, Getty Images
'One perfect lap needed'published at 07:01 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live
Hamilton only has to pull out that perfect lap and if there's one driver who knows how to find it, it's Lewis Hamilton.
Provisional polepublished at 07:01 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
Bottas can't improve, but Hamilton does. Provisional pole for Hamilton.
Bottas is on itpublished at 07:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live
It's in that first sector that Bottas was lightning fast.
He's still three tenths quicker than both Ferraris in that first sector, so he's got a huge gap to the field.
Image source, Getty Images
What's happened?published at 06:59 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
So, Leclerc is showing a similar pace to Vettel currently - fulfilling what we all speculated since his promotion to the A team.
Bottas jokingly claimed he was the wildcard this year, because he put in so much effort over the winter break to improve his results this year.
Verstappen is behind, but the two Haas' are on his tail, which is both impressive and interesting.
After that there's Lando and Perez. Is Lando the new Alonso?!
Times so farpublished at 06:55 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
We have three minutes remaining
1. Bottas
2. Hamilton
3. Vettel
4. Leclerc
5. Verstappen
6. Grosjean
7. Magnussen
8. Norris
No time for Raikkonen and Perez yet.
Image source, Getty Images
Radio messagepublished at 06:53 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
Lewis Hamilton: I'm constantly having a struggle with my right front brake
Bottas is absolutely going for itpublished at 06:52 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
He posts a 1:20.598 and collects the new track record.
So they were sandbagging!!
The quickest time in practice for the last two days was 1:22.292.
Final qualifying startspublished at 06:51 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
On to Q3 then.
Very impressive for Lando Norris to get that McLaren into Q3 on his first qualifying attempt. Alonso only managed it about three times last year.
Postpublished at 06:49 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
'What are you doing in here? You're supposed to be out there!"
get involved
Get Involvedpublished at 06:49 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
#bbcf1
Rachel T: Lando Norris has got his Millennium Falcon back!
DJ Pax: LANDO!!!! YOU LEGEND
Kayleigh: I wish you could see my smile! Q3 for Lando! Wow, what a guy!
Miranda Lane: WOW!! 1st F1 Qualifying session for Norris and he's got into final part!! IMPRESSIVE
Norris through to Q3published at 06:46 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live
What a job by the rookie British driver Lando Norris.
He was under pressure but performed brilliantly to just squeeze in.
When was the last time McLaren got into Q3?
Vettel in the grasspublished at 06:46 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
Sebastian Vettel went off the track and onto the grass between turns 11 and 12. After going into the corner too quickly.
But good save since there was no wall harmed.
Image source, Getty Images
Second qualifying endspublished at 06:44 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
Dropped:
11. Hulkenberg
12. Ricciardo
13. Albon
14. Giovinazzi
15. Kvyat
It's bad news for Renaultpublished at 06:41 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
Both Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg don't make it into Q3.
Hamilton back on toppublished at 06:40 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
And Verstappen has picked up the pace
1. Hamilton
2. Bottas
3. Verstappen
4. Leclerc
5. Grosjean
Image source, Getty Images
Danger zonepublished at 06:39 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
11. Grosjean
12. Kvyat
13. Albon
14. Giovinazzi
15. Norris
Mercedes still have the edgepublished at 06:37 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live
What a grid this will be if it stays like this.
Valtteri Bottas is 0.5 secs clear in the field, you do wonder what Hamilton will do to come back from fourth? No disrespect to Bottas but he's been on pole here for the last five years, so Mercedes still have the edge here.
Image source, EPA