Lewis Hamilton announced a favorite of the new Formula 1 season, has won the first pole position for the Australian GP in Melbourne. He beat Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas. The French Romain Grosjean and Esteban Ocon 6th and 14th respectively.
Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) confirmed their favorite status for 2017 by winning the pole position for the Australian Grand Prix, 1st round of the Formula 1 season on Saturday in Melbourne. This is the 62nd pole position of the career of three-time world champion, who will share the front row with Germany’s Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari).
The second line will be occupied by the other Mercedes of Finns Valtteri Bottas and the other Ferrari compatriot Kimi Räikkönen. The time of 1 min 22 sec 188/1000 made by Hamilton on ultra-soft tyres is the best ever on the Albert Park circuit. Vettel and Bottas times were within three tenths.
Grosjean 6th, Ocon 14th
Before his audience, Australian Daniel Ricciardo ran off track in Q3, damaging the rear of his car and causing a lapse of eight minutes. His Dutch teammate at Red Bull Max Verstappen will leave him on the third row. The French have had mixed fortunes during the first meeting of the season. Romain Grosjean (Haas) qualified in sixth position, while Esteban Ocon (Force India) was eliminated in Q2, with the 14th time.
