McLaren have started the 2025 Formula 1 season exactly how they ended 2024. The Woking-based outfit have locked out the front row for the Australian Grand Prix.
Lando Norris claimed his 10th pole position in Melbourne with teammate Oscar Piastri close behind in second. The Brit dethroned the home hero by just 84 thousandths of a second.
| OUTSIDE | INSIDE |
| 1 Lando Norris (McLaren) | |
| 2 Oscar Piastri (McLaren) | |
| 3 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | |
| 4 George Russell (Mercedes) | |
| 5 Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) | |
| 6 Alex Albon (Williams) | |
| 7 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | |
| 8 Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) | |
| 9 Pierre Gasly (Alpine) | |
| 10 Carlos Sainz (Williams) |
Max Verstappen had initially set the benchmark but was topped by the McLaren duo. It was exactly the start to the season many in the paddock were expecting after pre-season testing.
Bahrain showed that the Woking-based outfit had a huge advantage over their rivals. But Norris played down McLaren’s chances, instead insisting people would be ‘surprised’ by Ferrari’s pace.
However, the Maranello outfit could only manage to lock out the fourth row as Norris and Piastri went almost fourth tenths quicker than Verstappen in third.
McLaren’s mechanics would have been delighted with their efforts at the Australian Grand Prix. They also showed their praise for one of their rival’s performance.
McLaren mechanics applauded Gabriel Bortoleto’s performance in qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix
On the 2025 grid, there are two former products of the McLaren Driver Development Programme: Lewis Hamilton and Gabriel Bortoleto.
The latter is entering his rookie season with Sauber after winning the F2 title last season. Bortoleto was a McLaren junior in 2024 but the team did not have a seat available for him in F1.
Subsequently, the Woking-based outfit allowed the Brazilian to leave and head to Sauber. Bortoleto is regarded as the next rising star in F1 – and he showed a glimpse of that in qualifying in Melbourne.
Nobody had any ‘good words’ about Sauber’s car after pre-season, but that did not stop the 20-year-old from making it to Q2. Bortoleto will line up 15th for his F1 debut in what was a brilliant effort.
The Hinwil-based outfit will be elated by their driver’s performance – and he also got appreciation from hs former team. As per the McLaren app, the Woking-based outfit’s mechanics were seen smiling in the garage as they watched Bortoleto reach Q2.
Gabriel Bortoleto silenced Helmut Marko with his display in Melbourne
The Brazilian can be encouraged by his performance in qualifying – and he will feel uplifted by getting one up on Helmut Marko.
The Red Bull chief advisor labelled the 20-year-old a ‘B-class driver’ as he was not convinced by his true speed. Bortoleto fans scolded Marko for his comments – which the Sauber driver stated he did not care about and hoped he would prove him wrong.
In Melbourne, Bortoleto certainly did that with a Q2 appearance. Even better for the Sauber driver, he outqualified Red Bull’s Liam Lawson who was knocked out in Q1.
Bortoleto fans flooded Red Bull’s X account to poke fun at Marko again over the result. The Brazilian will feel good about the weekend already, but whether he can keep it up in the race is another question.
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