Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Qualifying LIVE
After months of waiting – things are now getting started!
We are back with the first qualifying session of the 2017 Formula 1 season and here is the Australian Grand Prix Qualifying LIVE – with everything as it happens.
News – Following his accident at the Race of Champions – Pascal Wehrlein has been deemed “unfit” to race the whole race distance this weekend. Antonio Giovinazzi will replace him for qualifying.
Cars are in the garages – most are being checked and worked on before qualifying.
Hamilton – “The rear tyres are huge, the feel great and in a way they could be bigger but the front tyres look like the rear tyres which is weird.“
“Formula 1 is a little bit behind on the entertainment side – look at basketball, they are so far forward and we need to see how to get Formula 1 like that as it deserves that recognition.“
From Mercedes AMG Twitter.
Go and make yourself a cup of coffee as there’s about 20 minutes to go until the first Qualifying session of the Formula 1 2017 season starts!
Australian Grand Prix Qualifying LIVE
Qualifying 1 – Australian Grand Prix Qualifying LIVE
The pit exit is now open – no cars are on track, yet.
Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel have both gone out onto the track and are both on the super soft (red tyres) compared to other drivers who are on the ultra soft (purple tyres).
Kimi Raikkonen looks slightly unsteady – he went wide and abandoned the lap he’s currently on.
Most of the cars currently on track haven’t got the greatest of grip.
Team to Vandoorne – “Box this lap we have an issue – box this lap“
Verstappen – “I have a bit of a flat spot” after going wide.
Hamilton is currently the fastest on track however most cars seem to be struggling with lack of grip – Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo goes 5th fastest.
Raikkonen has now joined the track again.
Daniel Ricciardo goes 4th fastest now.
Fernando Alonso is 12th – Stoffel Vandoorne is 18th, Marcus Ericsson 14th fastest and out-qualifies his team-mate.
Only one McLaren will make it’s way through to Q2.
Team to Alonso – “We are safe and through to Q2.“
Alonso – “Great, now we just need some rain.”
Here are the drivers out of Q1.
Giovinazzi
Magnussen
Vandoorne
Stroll
Palmer
Qualifying 2 – Australian Grand Prix Qualifying LIVE
The pit exit is now green and drivers are making their way on track.
Both Mercedes drivers are on the ultra soft tyres (purple).
There is a threat of rain in the air – clouds are appearing near the track.
Bottas is currently ahead of his team-mate and qualifies top of the time sheet.
Raikkonen and Vettel right behind the two Mercedes drivers – all on the ultra soft tyres now.
Alonso reporting “no power” and comes into the pits.
Vettel doesn’t improve on his time – he slowed down towards the end of the lap.
Hamilton still in the pits – Bottas ahead of him on the time sheets.
Drivers out of Q2
Perez
Hulkenberg
Alonso
Ocon
Ericsson
Alonso – “We couldn’t do more than this.”
Team to Alonso – “No, good work.”
Qualifying 3 – Australian Grand Prix Qualifying LIVE
From McLaren Twitter
Jolyon Palmer not happy with the car saying – “The traction is terrible, the balance is terrible.“
Lets get ready for Q3 now!
Reports of rain around Turn 13 – drivers coming out on dry tyres.
Raikkonen – “Yeah, there is some rain.”
Team to Raikkonen – “The rain is on the other side of the city – there’s probably just a few drops”
Vettel is on provisional pole!
Hamilton now sets the fastest lap time – he’s on provisional pole!
It’s Hamilton, Vettel, Bottas and Raikkonen – Ricciardo goes off-track and hits the barrier.
Image – Formula 1 Twitter
Session has been red-flagged.
Cars return to pit-lane.
Q3 has resumed.
Hamilton is back on provisional pole – knocking Valterri Bottas to 2nd place.
Verstappen qualifies in 5th.
Raikkonen qualifies in 4th.
Vettel qualifies in 2nd – in between the two Mercedes drivers.
Top 5 drivers for the Australian Grand Prix tomorrow
Hamilton
Vettel
Bottas
Raikkonen
Verstappen
Vettel – “Ok guys, I lost a bit of time in Turn 1 – anyway, great work you guys.“
Starting the season off well – it’s going to be interesting! Could this be a turning point for the Ferarri team?
Driver Press Conference – Australian Grand Prix Qualifying
Hamilton – “I’m here to do one thing and that’s win.”
Images – Formula1 Twitter
Hamilton – “It’s been a fantastic weekend so far and it’s been amazing to be here. It feels like only yesterday that I had my first race here and I’m incredibly proud of my team.”
“The rule change has been massive and the guys have worked so hard – to be here representing them is a great feeling and great for Mercedes. It’s close between us all.”
Vettel – “We have a good car and we are working well as a team – it’s nice to see that things are working, cars are working.”
“We had the confidence there from testing – in the end I wasn’t happy with my lap as I lost time. Tomorrow, I think we can do something in the race – we can improve and I’m looking forward to it. There’s been a lot of change and it was a big winter for us – the team is getting stronger and everyone is pushing hard.”
“We are motivated for tomorrow.”
Bottas – “Third position is not ideal – what I’m really happy and proud about is what the team has done with this car. I only saw a small part of the preparation but it’s really nice to see that all the work has paid off.”
“I didn’t get any perfect laps in so I’m not that satisfied but tomorrow is the day that matter – we have been quite strong and I hope we can keep that form and have a good race with good points.”
Hamilton – “Tomorrow is about putting in all the work throughout winter and testing – I’m going to have a good night’s sleep and make sure that we come back tomorrow stronger than ever. “
Lots more coming soon!
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