However, Piastri is not the only driver to watch as qualifying begins. Mercedes driver George Russell was just 0.039 seconds off Piastri’s pace, and Max Verstappen was just 0.081 seconds behind in third.

The new Formula One season gets underway at Albert Park in Melbourne with anticipation high ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s debut for Ferrari. McLaren and their star driver Lando Norris are the favourites,

Get ready for the Australian Grand Prix with a guide that tells you everything you need to know about how to watch the year’s first Formula 1 race, the schedule and more.

This is the starting grid for the Australian Grand Prix, the first race of the 2025 F1 season. Lando Norris starts on pole position with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri joining him on the front row. Red Bull's Max Verstappen goes from third as he starts his bid to win a fifth successive world title.

Today is the day, then. For all of pre-season and even during the first three practice sessions we have had here so far, the mantra has been “we’ll see after qualifying in Melbourne”. That is that whatever teams have been holding back or not, there is no place to hide when it comes to the first session that sets the grid for 2025.

The 24-race, 2025 Formula One season begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend. McLaren and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen start their respective defences of the constructors’ and drivers’ championships, with two free-practice sessions today ahead of qualifying tomorrow. Today: FP1 (9:30pm ET), FP2 (1am ET).

Adelaide held the Australian Grand Prix between 1985-1995 and it served as the season finale in November of each year. Although it was successful, with 210,000 people attending the final race, it became too expensive to run and Melbourne took over as host the following year.

Haas rookie Oliver Bearman has halted final practice for Sunday’s Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix just four minutes into the session, with the British driver bringing out the red flags after he lost c

Home racer Oscar Piastri put McLaren top of the timesheets in the final free practice before Australian Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday while Haas rookie Oliver Bearman spun out to trigger a second red flag in two days.

It's time for the Australian Grand Prix! Who will take home the first prize of the 2025 Formula 1 season? Check out how to watch the action on ESPN+.

After three impressive races during the 2024 in a reserve rule for both Ferrari and Haas, Oliver Bearman earned a full-time seat at Haas for the 2025 Formula 1 season. But that rookie campaign for Bearman has gotten off to a very difficult start.