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<strong>Qualifying</strong>: Hamilton beats Bottas to pole

Qualifying: Hamilton beats Bottas to pole

Published on 16 Mar 2019 08:01
21
By: Fergal Walsh

Lewis Hamilton has come out on top in the first qualifying session of the season, beating teammate Valtteri Bottas to pole position.

Bottas held provisional pole after the first run in Q3, but lost out in the end as Hamilton made up the time he lost after making a slight mistake at the first corner on his opening run.

The Briton's fastest lap was a 1:20.486, which is a new track record for Albert Park. Sebastian Vettel was third fastest in the Ferrari, however the four-time world champion was seven-tenths down on his rival.

Max Verstappen was fourth and was the only Red Bull inside the top ten, as Pierre Gasly was caught out in Q1 by an improving track and is set to line up on tomorrow's grid in 17th.

Charles Leclerc will start in fifth place for Ferrari, but was over a second down on Lewis Hamilton's pole-setting lap time.

Haas won the opening qualifying battle for the 'best of the rest' spot as it ended the session in sixth and seventh, with Romain Grosjean beating teammate Kevin Magnussen.

Lando Norris was an impressive eighth for McLaren, as the rookie got the better of his experienced teammate Carlos Sainz.

In fact, all three rookie drivers out-qualified their teammates on Saturday afternoon in Melbourne as Alexander Albon beat Daniil Kvyat at Toro Rosso, and George Russell out-qualified Robert Kubica - albeit for the final two spots on the grid.

Kubica ran into a bit of trouble in Q3, hitting the wall at Turn 10 which resulted in a puncture. Sainz and Stroll joined the two Williams' and Gasly in the bottom five.

Both Renault's failed to make it into the final stage of qualifying, and local favourite Daniel Ricciardo was out-done by teammate Nico Hulkenberg, who got the better of the Australian by just 0.008s.

On his debut for Alfa Romeo, Kimi Raikkonen posted the ninth fastest time in Q3 and will line up on the fifth row of the grid on Sunday alongside Sergio Perez. Raikkonen's teammate Antonio Giovinazzi ended the session in 14th.

F1Grand Prix Australia - Qualifying

Albert Park - 16 March 2019

Driver

Team

Time

Difference

Laps
1

Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes

1:20.486

18
2

Valtteri Bottas

Mercedes

1:20.598

+0.112

19
3

Sebastian Vettel

Ferrari

1:21.190

+0.704

16
4

Max Verstappen

Red Bull Racing

1:21.320

+0.834

17
5

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

1:21.442

+0.956

17
6

Romain Grosjean

Haas F1

1:21.826

+1.340

17
7

Kevin Magnussen

Haas F1

1:22.099

+1.613

18
8

Lando Norris

McLaren

1:22.304

+1.818

21
9

Kimi Räikkönen

Alfa Romeo Racing

1:22.314

+1.828

17
10

Sergio Perez

Racing Point

1:22.781

+2.295

15

Q2
11

Nico Hülkenberg

Renault

1:22.562

+2.076

10
12

Daniel Ricciardo

Renault

1:22.570

+2.084

12
13

Alexander Albon

Toro Rosso

1:22.636

+2.150

14
14

Antonio Giovinazzi

Alfa Romeo Racing

1:22.714

+2.228

14
15

Daniil Kvyat

Toro Rosso

1:22.774

+2.288

13

Q1
16

Lance Stroll

Racing Point

1:23.017

+2.531

6
17

Pierre Gasly

Red Bull Racing

1:23.020

+2.534

6
18

Carlos Sainz jr

McLaren

1:23.084

+2.598

6
19

George Russell

Williams

1:24.360

+3.874

9
20

Robert Kubica

Williams

1:26.067

+5.581

8

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527

Over all really close. Thrilled to see one Red Bull up there, not as thrilled to see Gasly way down below (way down below, way down below...). Hardly surprising to see Haas as 4th best, and glad to see that STR look competitive. But really Merc, did you really think we were believing your little ... [Read more]

1
Mar 16 2019 - 08:20

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Replies (21)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Over all really close. Thrilled to see one Red Bull up there, not as thrilled to see Gasly way down below (way down below, way down below...). Hardly surprising to see Haas as 4th best, and glad to see that STR look competitive. But really Merc, did you really think we were believing your little blue balling stunt? "Oh no, we are doomed for realsies this time! What to do!? We are only 7 tenths ahead of the rest!!!". Also nice to see McLaren beating out Renault, Norris had a solid quali session.
- + 1
- Mar 16 2019 - 08:20
- Pistonhead
  
  Posts: 556
  It's about time Ferrari caught them up, they start the year with USD73m extra Ibn the bank and really, they should have cracked this by now. I include only Ferrari in this as they are the only genuine competitors (engine-wise). For the health of F1 however, most caps are needed to prevent these two (and maybe RBR) killing the competition every boring year.
  + 0
  
  Mar 16 2019 - 14:30
Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172
Fun Qualy. 1.5-2.3 seconds from the front to most of the midfield. Still a big gap. Glad to see HAAS at the front of the rest. Now if they can avoid stepping on their own ducks in the race they might have a good result.
- + 1
- Mar 16 2019 - 08:27
xoya

Posts: 583
I am starting to repeat myself like all the middle aged people do, but given the state of Ferrari right now, put Alonso in that car if you want a victory. He can squeeze water out of a rock.
- + 0
- Mar 16 2019 - 08:57
- xoya
  
  Posts: 583
  Also, that gap between Russell and Kubica was... unexpected.
  + 0
  
  Mar 16 2019 - 08:59
- Kean
  
  Posts: 692
  I agree, Alonso would make a difference. Also agree regarding Kubica, I had hoped for him to do well but... then it could be that Russell is just outstanding. Impressive show by Norris and the Haas team.
  + 0
  
  Mar 16 2019 - 10:09
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  He's just to toxic for anyone right now. There is an reason why he's not in a top seat and that is his own doing. Also I am not sure if he would get the best out of that car anymore.
  
  The gap between Russell and Kubica shows that you shouldn't bank on historic results. Russel seems sharper at the moment but we will see over the whole season. He looks good though, lets hope that the Williams improves.
  + 0
  
  Mar 16 2019 - 13:14
- Mansell
  
  Posts: 104
  alonso is too toxic
  + 0
  
  Mar 16 2019 - 14:00
- Pistonhead
  
  Posts: 556
  Agree 100%. I'm damned sure he would have got an extra 2/3 tenths out of that car.
  + 0
  
  Mar 16 2019 - 14:31
abhidbgt

Posts: 283
There is a feeling that this season might turn out to be a boring one.
- + 0
- Mar 16 2019 - 12:16
- Pistonhead
  
  Posts: 556
  hhhmmm, I have that feeling too but let's reflect further on this once a couple of less power dominant tracks been run.
  + 0
  
  Mar 16 2019 - 14:33
- abhidbgt
  
  Posts: 283
  Dr. Marko's analysis seems like the biggest joke now.
  + 0
  
  Mar 16 2019 - 16:43
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Ignore the top field, the mid field looks heavenly. Get Williams in there two, drag them into the mess if you must, and unleash chaos! >:D
  + 0
  
  Mar 16 2019 - 18:09
Mansell

Posts: 104
Norris knocked that out the park get in there,
- + 0
- Mar 16 2019 - 13:59
Gabat

Posts: 1
I will Forget about merc and ferrari maybe even red bull. The rest midfield fight should be good, Very good.
- + 1
- Mar 16 2019 - 14:05
- abhidbgt
  
  Posts: 283
  True, that's the only silver lining in all this.
  + 0
  
  Mar 16 2019 - 16:30
mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
Well another season to write off.
- + 0
- Mar 16 2019 - 16:22
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Maybe for the title, we don't quite know yet, but for the midfield? This looks wonderful. Chaotic and random and messy, and I expect carnage tomorrow! Go, my minions! Unleash Chaos!
  + 0
  
  Mar 16 2019 - 18:11
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  No so quick, looks like Mercedes are not ahead on race pace. I don't think that they will have an easy 1-2 at all.
  + 0
  
  Mar 16 2019 - 20:01
mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
Sucks to be Ricciardo, and even more so to be Gasly.
- + 0
- Mar 16 2019 - 17:43
xoya

Posts: 583
Oh yeah! I hope Bottas wins it this year. Go Bottas!
- + 0
- Mar 17 2019 - 03:57