Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Star Ferrari Duo, Lawson Stumble in Qualifying

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chase Campbell | Last updated Mar 15, 2025 2:42 AM ET

After Free Practice 2 at Albert Park, it looked like a two-horse race for pole position between McLaren and Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix. It all unraveled for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in the third qualifying session, as they’ll start the first race of the 2025 season locking out the fourth row.

The driver pair sits behind the VCARB of Yuki Tsunoda and the Williams of Alex Albon, two cars that it would be easily expected of Ferrari to outpace. Leclerc put in a provisional pole-sitting lap time of 1:15.755 early in Q3, but wasn’t able to complete another lap as the checkered flag waved while he was in the pit lane.

Hamilton did get two push laps in the final qualifying session, but his adjustment to the Maranello outfit is still ongoing. He wasn’t able to outqualify his teammate, and the pair of them will now have serious work to do to make an early challenge for the Constructor’s and Driver’s Championships in 2025.

It was even further misery for the rookies on the grid, especially those for major, competitive teams. Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson both failed to overcome the first hurdle of qualifying, with Lawson unable to find the pace all weekend.

Lawson has now been outqualified by Tsunoda in seven consecutive race weekends, dating back to Lawson’s takeover of a VCARB seat from Daniel Ricciardo in 2024.

McLaren have locked out the front row of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, which kicks off the Formula 1 season on Sunday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: