Australian Grand Prix: How did Lewis Hamilton do in first qualifying session at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton admits there is much to dissect after he and his Ferrari were way off the pace in Saturday’s qualifying session ahead of the Australian Grand Prix

There is much anticipation ahead of the first race of the new season with Hamilton finally fulfilling his wish to compete in the colours of the prestigious Italian manufacturer, while Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s dominance is under considerable threat.

Hamilton’s chances of competing for the title, however, took an early hit after his car was way off the pace set by McLaren Mercedes.

Ferrari’s underwhelming speed was a surprise to their rivals and to Hamilton, whose quickest lap in the final qualifying session (Q3) was nearly nine-tenths of a second slower than Lando Norris who will start on pole.

Hamilton also lost control and spun in the middle of the track at one point during Q2.

‘I didn’t know we’d be nine-tenths off or eight-tenths off today but there is a lot to dissect, for sure,’ Hamilton said.

‘Tomorrow’s going to be a challenge, I’ve never driven this car in the rain. I don’t even know the rain settings so I’ve got to go and study that tonight.’

Norris, meanwhile, kept his cool on a sweltering afternoon at Albert Park to take pole as his teammate Oscar Piastri joined him on the front row.

Defending champion Verstappen will start third on the grid ahead of fourth-placed Mercedes driver George Russell.

Briton Norris lapped the lakeside circuit in one minute, 15.096 seconds, 0.084 ahead of Melbourne native Piastri, who will hope to become Australia’s first home winner since the race joined F1’s global calendar in 1985.

‘It’s the perfect way to start the year,’ said Norris. I’m never going to get ahead of myself, I’m not that kind of guy. I’m confident the car is in a great position but we’ve also never run in the wet.’

Rain forecast for Sunday could make the race a lottery but McLaren were delighted with their raw pace in the dry.

Verstappen, bidding for a fifth consecutive drivers’ title, had struggled with handling problems through free practice so he was also glad to be near the front for Sunday.

‘Yesterday was quite tough so for us to be in P3 today I will take that,’ he said.

‘For me dry or wet is fine, in the weather there is always some crazy things that can happen and especially around here it can be quite slippery.’