Mercedes driver and three-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has taken pole position for the maiden Grand Prix of the 2017 Formula 1 calendar in 2017. Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari will start the Australian Grand Prix second from the grid, splitting the two Mercedes drivers, with Valtteri Bottas finishing third in his first outing for the German team.
Ferrari are expected to be much more competitive on the grid this season and that was proven after Vettel’s pace in the practice and the qualifying sessions. Even Hamilton admitted that pole position on the grid did not guarantee him a victory and Ferrari would make it a very tough race.
Hamilton said, “It’s going to be a tight race.”
Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was fifth on the grid followed by Red Bull’s young sensation Max Verstappen. It was a major disappointment for the Australian crowd at Albert Park though as hometown hero Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull could only manage to qualify at 10th position on the grid.
F1 fans will now be salivating at the prospect of witnessing the two best teams in Mercedes and Ferrari and two of the most natural racers on the grid in Hamilton and Vettel going head-to-head on the track in Melbourne.
Here is the Australian qualifying timesheet:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:22.188
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
4. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
6. Romain Grosjean, Haas
7. Felipe Massa, Williams
8. Carlos Sainz, Toro Rosso
9. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso
10. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
