Max finishes third in the first qualifying of 2025 in Melbourne: 'Happy with it'

Published on 15 March 2025 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen finished the very first qualification of the season in third place. The reigning world champion had to admit defeat to the McLaren drivers: Lando Norris took the first pole position of the year, followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri. George Russell secured fourth place, while Yuki Tsunoda will start from fifth tomorrow in Albert Park.

“I am happy to be in third,” Max said after qualifying. “It is a big improvement compared to yesterday. Yesterday was quite tough. So, being in P3 today, I take that. But the gap in Q3 shows that we are not quite there yet. The balance was not bad, but we are just a bit too slow. You have to accept that.”

Verstappen mentioned during qualifying that he struggled with overheating tyres. He said, “That was tough in qualifying. I do not know how it felt for the others, but for me, it never felt like we nailed that bit. But the gap to McLaren was quite big, so it would not have mattered in changed positions.”

Looking ahead to tomorrow, Max said, “I do not think we have the race pace of the McLarens. I did not do many laps in FP2, so I am not sure how long my tyres will last. So, it is difficult to say. Of course, there is a chance of rain tomorrow, and that changes everything. But whether it is 40 degrees, 20 degrees, dry, wet, ice, or gravel, I am fine with it,” Max joked

The first qualifying of 2025 started hot, with 32°C in Albert Park and a track temperature of 38°C. This contrasts with tomorrow’s forecast, as rain is expected. The Haas drivers kicked off the first qualifying session of the season. Oliver Bearman, who struggled in the practice sessions due to a crash and a spin, immediately had gearbox issues. The rookie was eliminated early in the session and did not return.

Max Verstappen set a 1:16.018 as his first time, securing second place, just 0.015 seconds behind Lando Norris. For a moment, it seemed like the Dutchman had set the fastest lap, but in the final sector, he fell short. His new teammate, New Zealander Liam Lawson, briefly caused a yellow flag when he ran off into the gravel. He managed to avoid the wall. In his final attempt, he went off the track again, this time onto the grass, and had to abort his lap. Not the debut he had hoped for.

Alongside Bearman and Lawson, Esteban Ocon and Nico Hülkenberg were eliminated. Teammate Gabriel Bortoleto just made it into Q2 with his Sauber, at the expense of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. Norris, Russell, and Verstappen finished Q1 as the fastest.

Q2 began with a 1:15.688 from Verstappen. Oscar Piastri went even quicker, setting a 1:15.468. Norris was close behind with just eight hundredths of a second separating them. Verstappen reported that the tyres were warming up too quickly. Turn 6 proved a challenge for many drivers, with several cutting the corner too sharply, hitting the gravel, and risking damage to the floor of their car.

Bortoleto pushed hard in an all-or-nothing attempt to make it to Q3 but almost lost control. In the final moments of Q2, Lewis Hamilton briefly caused a yellow flag when his Ferrari spun and ended up backwards. This forced some drivers to abort their fast laps. At the end of the session, Bortoleto, Doohan, Stroll, Alonso, and Hadjar were eliminated. Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen set the fastest times.

Piastri opened Q3 with a 1:16.147. His teammate Norris went off the track, his time was deleted. Verstappen set a 1:15.671, taking provisional P1. After the first runs, Russell was in P2, with Leclerc in third. With about three minutes remaining, everyone went for one final attempt. Amid loud cheers from the Australian crowd, Piastri set a 1:15.180. However, Norris went even faster, setting a time 0.08 seconds quicker to take provisional pole. Verstappen could not respond and finished third, 0.3 seconds behind Norris.

Russell put his Mercedes in P4, while Yuki Tsunoda completed the top five. Alexander Albon surprised with a strong final lap, placing his Williams in P6. And so, the first qualifying of 2025 came to an end. With potentially unpredictable weather on the horizon, it could be a spectacular season opener in Albert Park.

Contest GP Australia: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing 2025 cap!

Results qualifying Australia: