Verstappen takes third pole in a row in Melbourne, Hamilton P11

Max Verstappen made it three pole positions in three races in the 2024 season as he claimed the top spot in qualifying once again ahead of Carlos Sainz in P3 and Sergio Perez in P3, as Lewis Hamilton was knocked out in Q2 and starts from 11th place. 

After struggling to show the dominant pace we are used to seeing from Red Bull throughout the free practice session, there was talk of whether Verstappen would take pole. But the Dutchman once again showed his class and finished two-tenths clear of the field.

Behind him was the Spaniard Sainz, who returned to his SF-24 after missing the last race in Saudi Arabia due to appendicitis, and his teammate Perez. Lando Norris took a fine P4 in his McLaren, while the other Ferrari of Charles Leclerc could only manage P5, coming into the pits during his second lap after making a mistake.

Behind the Monegasque driver was the other McLaren of Oscar Piastri, who made the home fans cheer as he qualified sixth fastest, ahead of George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, who rounded out the top ten.

Q1

For the first time this season, qualifying was back to its usual Saturday slot after being on Friday at the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix.

Only 19 cars went out on track for the start of qualifying, with Williams' Logan Sargeant missing out as Alex Albon was behind the wheel of the American's car, a choice made by team principal James Vowles after Albon crashed in FP1 and meant his car could not be repaired for the rest of the weekend.

However, it seemed to be the correct choice from Vowles, as Albon made it into the second part of qualifying. Unfortunately for the home fans at the Albert Park Street Circuit, Daniel Ricciardo had a lap time deleted, meaning he dropped from safety to P18.

Joining the Racing Bulls driver in Q1 elimination was Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly and Zhou Guanyu, all unable to find the pace required to move on.

Out - P19 Zhou, P18 Ricciardo, P17 Gasly, P16 Hulkenberg

Q2

The second session of qualifying is where the biggest shock of the day came, as the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton could only qualify in P11 and could not make it into the final part of qualifying.

It has been a tough start to the season for Mercedes, who have not been near Red Bull or Ferrari in the first two race weekends of the year, and these results in Melbourne will be a huge worry for Toto Wolff.

Along with Hamilton, Albon, in the only Williams, could not make it further, as he could only qualify in P12. Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen and Esteban Ocon rounded out the rest of the eliminated drivers in Q2.

Out - P11 Hamilton, P12 Albon, P13 Bottas, P14 Magnussenn, P15 Ocon