What the teams said – Qualifying in Australia

George Russell clinched pole position for Mercedes at the Australian Grand Prix qualifying, leading a dramatic front-row lockout with teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who rebounded from an FP3 crash and a Q3 red flag incident. Red Bull's Max Verstappen crashed out in Q1 due to a rear axle lock, but Isack Hadjar excelled, securing a strong P3 for Racing Bulls. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc (P4) and Lewis Hamilton (P7) showed early promise but couldn't match Mercedes' pace. McLaren's Oscar Piastri (P5) and Lando Norris (P6) claimed the third row, with Norris citing debris damage. Debutant Audi (Kick Sauber) impressed with Gabriel Bortoleto reaching Q3 despite a technical issue. Haas, Alpine, Williams, and Aston Martin faced various challenges, including reliability woes for Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll.