Australia – Qualifications: Hamilton on pole and all-Mercedes front row

For the first qualifying session of the year, the weather conditions are good, 26°C in the air and 32°C on the track.

Q1: As the flag turns green, at Red Bull, work is being done on Daniil Kvyat’s car, whose participation in the qualifying seems compromised.

Carlos Sainz Jr is the first to set off in this session, quickly followed by the majority of his colleagues. The Spaniard sets the first time at 1:33.094 at the wheel of his Toro Rosso after a lock-up in the last corners of his lap, a time then improved by Verstappen and then Nasr.

While most of the drivers started on mediums, at Ferrari, both drivers set off on softs, and Kimi Räikkönen clocked the best time at 1:30.188 before Vettel did even better at 1:29.307. On mediums, the Mercedes cars were not to be outdone, with Nico Rosberg posting a 1:28.906 to take the lead in Q1. The Williams team was close to the Silver Arrows on mediums as well. Hamilton eventually did better than his German teammate, with a 1:28.586, 6 minutes before the end.

While Kvyat is ready to head out for the first time, at Manor/Marussia, it is completely calm in the garage even though both cars are present in Melbourne. The drivers head out on soft tires for this end of the session and the lap times improve, with Sainz, Grosjean, Maldonado, and Verstappen each taking turns approaching the top 3.

As the checkered flag waves, the drivers finish their respective laps and the verdict is in, Marcus Ericsson is out along with the two McLarens who will start from the last row tomorrow.

Eliminated in Q1: Ericsson, Button, Magnussen, Stevens, and Merhi

Q2: Felipe Nasr is the first to hit the track on soft tires along with Hülkenberg. The two are quickly followed by other drivers, including the Williams drivers. The Brazilian from the Sauber team sets the first time at 1:29.614, a time that Hülkenberg doesn’t beat. But Bottas does much better with a 1:28.012, before Hamilton puts everyone in agreement with a 1:26.894.

5 minutes before the end of Q2, the drivers return to the pits to prepare for their second stint, and we find the Mercedes ahead of the Ferraris, the Williams, then Sainz, Grosjean, Ricciardo, and Verstappen virtually qualified for Q3.

The drivers are gradually getting back on track, with Hülkenberg leading, and even though the German improves, it’s not enough to break into the top 10. His teammate at Force India is also improving, but Perez is also out of the top 10, as are Kvyat, Verstappen, and Nasr.

The two Lotuses are thus qualified for Q3, as are the two Mercedes, Ferrari, Williams, the Toro Rosso of Sainz, and the Red Bull of Ricciardo.

Eliminated in Q2: Nasr, Verstappen, Kvyat, Hülkenberg and Perez

Q3: Bottas is the first to go out, followed by Grosjean and Ricciardo, then the rest of the top 10. At the first braking point, the Finn makes a mistake and decides to pit at the end of his lap. After everyone’s first lap, Lewis Hamilton is leading with 1:26.419 ahead of Vettel, Massa, Räikkönen, Maldonado, Ricciardo, Grosjean, and Sainz, while Rosberg went off track before the final corner and decided to head straight to the pits.

The drivers head out to attack the stopwatch again, with Ricciardo leading the way and the Australian improves, as does Räikkönen. Despite a small mistake in the last corner, Bottas clocks a 1:28.087, 4th fastest time. Rosberg ranks 2nd while Hamilton improves his pole with a 1:26.327. Massa ranks 3rd ahead of Vettel and his Ferrari.

Hamilton will therefore start in pole position alongside Rosberg. Massa and Vettel will share the second row, Räikkönen and Bottas the third, Ricciardo and Kvyat the fourth, and the Lotus drivers the fifth.

2015 Australian Grand Prix – Qualifying: