Australian GP

Australian Grand Prix: Starting grid with penalties applied

Matthew Scott Saturday 16 March 2019 13:24 Updated: 19:57

Australian Grand Prix: Starting grid with penalties applied

It was one of the most familiar stories in Formula 1 in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton took Saturday honours in Melbourne for the sixth consecutive year, and eighth overall. Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas joins the champion on the front row after the Silver Arrows dominated qualifying.

Sebastian Vettel could not get within half a second of Hamilton, but will start third – a position from which he won last year's race here.

Max Verstappen is alongside the German on the second row, with Charles Leclerc starting fifth as he becomes Ferrari's second youngest grand prix driver in history.

There is only one Red Bull at the sharp end of the field, with Pierre Gasly needing to put his overtaking skills to the test from P17 after a strategy error on Saturday.

Romain Grosjean edges out Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen for sixth as the American team look to atone for last year's double DNF from a brilliant starting base.

AUSTRALIAN GP STARTING GRID

1. Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes]

2. Valtteri Bottas [Mercedes]

3. Sebastian Vettel [Ferrari]

4. Max Verstappen [Red Bull]

5. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari]

6. Romain Grosjean [Haas]

7. Kevin Magnussen [Haas]

8. Lando Norris [McLaren]

9. Kimi Raikkonen [Alfa Romeo]

10. Sergio Perez [Racing Point]

11. Nico Hulkenberg [Renault]

12. Daniel Ricciardo [Renault]

13. Alexander Albon [Toro Rosso]

14. Antonio Giovinazzi [Alfa Romeo]

15. Daniil Kvyat [Toro Rosso]

16. Lance Stroll [Racing Point]

17. Pierre Gasly [Red Bull]

18. Carlos Sainz [McLaren]

19. George Russell [Williams]

20. Robert Kubica [Williams]

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