This session is live. You are not logged in, so new updates will not appear automatically. For automatic updates, log in here or register a free RaceFans account here.

There is an added complication for the teams to factor in as they set their cars up for qualifying. Weather forecasts indicate a very strong chance of rain tomorrow, which will likely encourage them to run higher wing angles. However there are four DRS zones at Melbourne, and if they take that too far, they will be too slow on the straights and potentially vulnerable if the track dries out at some stage in the grand prix.

Liam Lawson faces a tough challenge in his first race for Red Bull, too. He was well off Verstappen’s pace yesterday and did effectively no running in first practice due to a power unit problem on his car. That will also have compromised Red Bull’s attempts to compare two different front wings: Lawson has been running the original specification, Verstappen an updated version.

However first of all we need to see who will get beyond Q1. Haas face an uphill struggle, especially Oliver Bearman who’s had one crash and one spin in two days, covering just a dozen laps. Sauber also haven’t been quick, though Nico Hulkenberg pulled out a quick time in second practice yesterday, so he could spring a surprise.

Mercedes could have a say in this as well. George Russell was right up there in final practice, less than four-hundredths of a second off Piastri, and he had pole position for two of the last three grands prix last season.

Ferrari looked like strong candidates yesterday when Charles Leclerc set the fastest time. He was less happy with his car in final practice, however, and it remains to be seen whether Ferrari will get it back in the shape he wants. Lewis Hamilton has been behind his new team mate so far this weekend, but has gradually edged closer, and the gap between them was less than two-tenths of a second in final practice.

McLaren took pole for the last grand prix in Abu Dhabi and appear to have picked up where they left off. Oscar Piastri was fastest in practice this morning and is vying to become the first Australian ever to start their home race from pole position. His team mate Lando Norris is not to be discounted, of course. He may only have been 10th fastest in final practice, but conspicuously backed out of what looked like being quick laps.

However Red Bull haven’t had pole position for a grand prix since June last year – the Austrian Grand Prix. Verstappen would have had pole in Qatar, of course, but for that hotly debated one-place grid penalty.

So who’s the favourite for the first pole position of 2025? Max Verstappen has set pole at this race for the last two years in a row and was within a tenth of a second of the fastest time in final practice.

Qualifying for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix is coming up next.

2025 Australian Grand Prix

Browse all 2025 Australian Grand Prix articles