GP Australia 2026: Qualifying report

All-Mercedes front row

That’s all for the Qualifying report, thank you for being with us. Enjoy the rest of your day with FormulaPassion.it. We leave you with the full starting grid for the Australian GP, which starts tomorrow at 05:00.

Read more Mercedes takes F1 back 10 years: never such a large gap between first and third in the first qualifying since 2016

07.30 – Verstappen’s technical DNF aside, it’s a decidedly positive Saturday for Red Bull-powered cars. Hadjar was the best behind the Mercedes, and the two Racing Bulls were the fifth fastest force on track today.

07.25 – Mercedes aside, from third to seventh position Hadjar, Leclerc, Piastri, Norris, and Hamilton are covered by less than two tenths.

07.21 – Below is the situation at the end of Q3.

07.20 – Mercedes 1-2 with Russell ahead of Antonelli, Hadjar placed the Red Bull in third position a few thousandths ahead of Leclerc.

Chequered flag

07.19 – Russell moves to 1’18″518 and takes pole.

07.18 – 1’18″811 for Antonelli who takes provisional pole.

07.17 – Excellent first sector for Antonelli, then he sets the best split in the second.

07.16 – Antonelli returns to the track; he must not make mistakes on his next flying lap.

07.14 – This is the standings after the first run: Russell, Norris, Hadjar, Leclerc, Piastri, and Hamilton.

07.13 – 1’19″084 for Russell who takes the lead.

07.12 – Mistake by Antonelli at Turn 3, a slight excursion into the gravel.

07.11 – We’ll see if the drivers who went out immediately can manage two attempts.

07.10 – Green light at the end of the pit lane, the hunt for pole resumes.

07.07 – The drivers are already in the pit lane, the session will resume at 07:10.

07.05 – There are still 9 minutes and 47 seconds on the clock.

07.04 – Norris disintegrated the blower by hitting it with his front left tire.

07.03 – Unsafe release by Mercedes, sending Antonelli onto the track with one of the blowers for cooling the sidepods. Red flag.

07.02 – Piastri’s first split is not competitive; it’s another preparation lap.

07.01 – Piastri starts his lap.

07.00 – Oscar Piastri is the first to leave the pit lane, followed by the two Racing Bulls.

06.59 – Green light at the end of the pit lane, the hunt for pole begins. Audi has officially announced that Bortoleto will not take part in Q3.

06.58 – Remember that drivers will have 13 minutes available in Q3.

06.57 – The end of Qualifying will start in 2 minutes.

06.56 – In light of Bortoleto’s problem, Q3 should only have 9 drivers on track.

06.55 – The start of Q3 is currently delayed.

06.54 – Our in-depth look at Verstappen’s accident.

06.53 – At Ferrari, energy management issues seem to have been resolved towards the end of the session. The difference with Mercedes in terms of power unit remains evident.

06.52 – Bortoleto stopped at the pit lane entry due to technical problems.

06.51 – The situation at the end of Q2. A round of applause for the Racing Bulls.

06.50 – Eliminated: Hulkenberg, Bearman, Ocon, Gasly, Albon, and Colapinto.

Chequered flag

06.48 – Leclerc moves into second position, 423 thousandths behind Russell.

06.47 – Leclerc starts his lap, having dropped to eighth position.

06.46 – Hamilton secures himself in sixth position.

06.45 – Hamilton goes again.

06.44 – Hamilton consistently had an energy management issue in the second sector, as did Leclerc.