2025 Australian Grand Prix Qualifying Recap

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The first qualifying session of 2025 has just come to an end. So let’s recap all the events, the highs and lows and who came out on top for Sunday’s race.

mclaren off to a flying start!

McLaren could not have wished for a better start to the season as both drivers Lando Norris (4) and home hero Oscar Piastri (81), hit the ground running for the Papaya’s to claim a front grid lockout going into tomorrow’s race.

Lando Norris put in a lap of 1:15.096 to cement pole position and edge out his Aussie teammate Oscar Piastri by 0.054s. Max Verstappen followed closely behind in 3rd place to put Red Bull on the second row of the grid, and seemingly the man to fight McLaren this weekend after a solid performance from the x4 World Champion.

Yuki Shines!

VCARB driver Yuki Tsunoda put in a phenomenal shift to put his car P5 for the Grand Prix tomorrow.

After speculation that he would be in contention for the vacant Red Bull seat, after the departure of Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez, Tsunoda you’d think would feel a little hard done by when the news was announced that Kiwi driver Liam Lawson would be taking the seat.

This performance can be considered a statement as Yuki shows off his driving ability and pace to put the Red Bull sister car P5. Did Red Bull Make a mistake?

Lawson and Antonelli struggle!

New Red Bull driver Liam Lawson and Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli did not get off to the greatest of starts to their rookie seasons as they were both eliminated in Q1 in Melbourne.

Lawson competing in his first full season in F1 faced difficulties in Q1, complaining about a lack of grip, the Kiwi dipped into the gravel and also sent the RB into the grass, meaning he dropped out of Qualifying and finished P18.

Antonelli suffered a loss of performance, and dipped a wheel into the gravel in a bid to get out of danger, but improvements from fellow rookie Bortoleto in the Sauber led to Antonelli dropping into the elimination zone.

Ocon and rookie Ollie Bearman completed the exits from Q1, Bearman who did not get much driving time this weekend faced troubles throughout with the gearbox the session. Solidifying a tough opening race weekend for the American team Haas.

So it’s McLaren with the advantage in Melbourne, with Max Verstappen closely lurking behind ready to pounce on any mistake from the drivers in front.

What did you think of the first qualifying session of the year? Do McLaren have it in the bag or will the reported rain cause a big upset?

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