Formula 1 News: 2025 Australian GP Post-Qualifying Quotes

All ten Formula 1 teams plus tire supplier Pirelli provided quotes after qualifying for the 2025 Australian GP at Albert Park.

McLaren

Lando Norris, 1st, 1:15.096

“It’s the perfect way to start the year. A huge congratulations to the team, everyone at McLaren has done an amazing job to continue from where we were at the end of last season, with another front row lockout – but it’s only Quali, so we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. We know it’s going to be a tricky race tomorrow but we’ve got two cars in the best positions.

“I’m confident in the car’s pace, but we’ve also never run in the wet, and our competition is very strong. There will be many opportunities for everyone tomorrow, and we’re all going to be learning a lot – so let’s wait and see what happens.”

Oscar Piastri, 2nd, 1:15.180

“It’s great to start the year on the front row. It’s brilliant to have both of us there, of course it may be one position further back than I would have liked, but it’s a good way to go into the first race of the year. Overall, I am happy with how Qualifying went and we’ve got solid pace in the car. We’ll just have to see how it all plays out with the weather tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.”

Andrea Stella, Team Principal

“A fantastic effort by both drivers and a testament to the many men and women here at track and back in Woking who worked so hard over the winter to make a good car even stronger.

“Despite some tense moments, I think both drivers maximized the potential of the car, whilst maybe others didn’t. There are certainly some cars that I think could have been much closer so I don’t think this is indicative of the field in general. Tomorrow’s forecast suggests it will be an eventful race, so we now focus on capitalizing on our starting positions.”

Red Bull

Max Verstappen, 3rd, 1:15.481

“I think today’s performance was the best we could have hoped for. Yesterday’s practice sessions were quite tough, but we made quite a few improvements to the car and it felt a lot better to drive. The gap is still big to McLaren and we don’t have the same pace as them at the moment, so there are still improvements to be made. However, we performed better than I expected and the car has given us enough confidence to push. Ultimately P3 today is a good result that I am happy with and it is good that we have found a bit more pace. Tomorrow, I don’t mind if it is dry or wet, but I do think it will be a lot nicer for the fans if it is good weather for them. I will just do my best and see how we go tomorrow.”

Liam Lawson, 18th, 1:17.094

“After missing P3 we expected the start of quali to be tough, as we missed a lot of soft tire prep that others got in. So, to be honest the first laps were expected to be off and then we were planning to just build through the session. But obviously going off on that second lap put everything out of order a bit. The last lap was decent until the final sector, we were about half a second up and we should have just kept improving but I had a big drop with my tires and made a mistake – that’s the main reason we are out, it was stupid from me. Getting the tires in the right window is something we have been battling with both cars this weekend and it’s something we missed practicing with, when we had an improved set-up, with a big step up for P3. Missing P3 doesn’t help any of this, we have had a huge lack of running, but I also shouldn’t be going off. If I had put it together, we wouldn’t be in this situation. It is obviously not a good start, but we will have tomorrow to try and make something out of it, the weather is set to be variable, so we’ll see. I would love some rain to come to throw some options in there for us.”

Christian Horner, Team Principal

“Well, we are back and it was a very encouraging performance from Max to have the provisional pole on the first run. But it always felt like McLaren had the better lap time. Fair play to them. I thought Max did a very good job and I think the Team did a very good job to improve the car throughout the weekend. It’s a shame for Liam, he missed the whole of FP3 due to a technical issue, he has never raced here before, it puts him immediately on the back foot, it’s a lot to ask of him in qualifying. His first run went well and then unfortunately mistakes were made. Second row of the grid, P3 for tomorrow’s race. Who knows what’s going to happen weather wise, it’s all to play for.”

Mercedes

George Russell 4th, 1:15.546

“I’m very happy with how today went. We struggled in the hotter conditions last year, and that was true yesterday. That was a very useful day of learning for us; we went away overnight, and the team worked hard to try and understand why we were lacking on the Soft tire compared to the Medium and Hard compounds. We found some areas of improvement that were beneficial, and we can hopefully continue pushing in this direction.

“Whilst we are still a few tenths behind the McLarens, we’re starting P4 for the first race of the season, and that is encouraging. It could have potentially been a little better too as Q3 was tricky for us. I lost three tenths in the last couple of corners on my first push lap and didn’t improve significantly on my final effort.

“Finally, whilst Kimi was unfortunate to be knocked out in Q1, he has shown great signs of speed this weekend and he’ll soon be right up there. Tomorrow is a new day and, with the weather forecast showing rain, it’s going to be all to play for. Hopefully, we can be in the mix.”

Kimi Antonelli, 16th, 1:16.525

“That was an unfortunate Qualifying session to start the season. As I came through turn six on my first push lap on the Soft tire, there was some gravel on track and I ran slightly wide. It was not enough to really impact my lap time, but the car hit the exit curb harder than I expected and I suffered some significant floor damage. I could feel the car bottoming on the straight and costing me a lot of performance. Without the damage, I am sure it would have been a very different story for us.

“Starting P16 is of course not ideal. That is particularly true when you look at our pace in FP3 as I think we could have been challenging near the front of the grid. It is what it is though and now we look ahead to tomorrow. The forecast is for rain and that will hopefully present us with some opportunities. I’m looking forward to it and getting my first F1 race under my belt.”

Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport

“We were in the mix today and that was encouraging. We showed improved speed in FP3 having made some changes overnight. Whilst we looked like we were in the fight for pole position at moments in Qualifying, the McLarens were very impressive; I think it’s fair to say that they had a couple of tenths advantage over us on the optimal lap. Overall, it is a good start to the new season with the W16. It all looks close at the front, and we will see what we can do tomorrow.

“Kimi was very unfortunate to suffer floor damage having run over the exit curb at turn six. He didn’t run very wide yet suffered a big hit on the underside of the car and that caused him to lose a significant amount of performance. He put in a strong effort to try and hustle the car through to Q2, but it wasn’t quite enough. It is all beneficial for his learning though and he will now have an exciting race trying to come through the pack tomorrow.”

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

“We had a solid start to the day in FP3. We looked to have made improvements to the car overnight and the drivers were happy with the overall balance. It looked like we could be in the mix at the front come Qualifying, although the pack at the front was very tight.

“Whilst that did prove to be the case, we were slightly unfortunate not to get the perfect laps together when it mattered in Qualifying. George’s session ran to plan, as he progressed through to Q3. His first effort in the final segment put him P2, but he dropped back slightly in the final reckon to P4. With tomorrow’s forecast, there is still plenty of opportunity for him to move forward though and fight for the podium.

“Kimi was more unfortunate having run over the exit curb at turn six. That caused floor damage that impacted his performance significantly, both on the straights and in the corners. He did his very best to get the car through to Q2 but, even if he had been able to do so, it’s unlikely that we would have been able to make the necessary repairs to get him back out there. We can be encouraged by his progress through the weekend though, and the pace he has shown on both the single lap and the long run. Whilst he’s starting out of position, the wet weather may afford him the chance to make good progress up the field.”

Racing Bulls

Isack Hadjar, 11th, 1:16.175

“I’m quite happy today, and coming to this weekend, I’d have signed for this result in my first Qualifying in Formula One. I had a good feeling in Q1, and then in Q2, I lost a bit of lap time during my lap as I wasn’t as happy with the balance. I know where I lost time, and that’s why I’m a bit frustrated. Albert Park is a very particular circuit, but this performance from us as a team with also Yuki in P5 shows we worked hard after Bahrain Testing, making some steps forward and allowing us to have a better understanding of the car. Looking at tomorrow where rain is forecast, I’ve never driven in wet conditions with all the other cars around, only once alone in a TPC, so I can’t count on much experience, but instead it will be important to use the instinct and smartness.”

Yuki Tsunoda, 5th, 1:15.670

“I didn’t expect us to have this result today, I definitely wasn’t expecting to be P5, I was more expecting to be in the top 10. I knew it would be a tight field, but the last lap was a pretty magical lap; I was able to put it all together. I got a little bit of help from Lando with a tow, so I’m appreciative of that. The lap time came a bit out of nowhere, but the car has been consistently good over the week. The team pushed really really hard, I’m surprised to be honest how much of a step up we’ve made since Abu Dhabi, you can tell from this result the hard work they’ve put in over the off season, so well done to them and the team at the factory. We know we’re going to have a bit of rain tomorrow, we’re prepared with the set-up of the car. I’m sure the car will perform well so I’m excited and confident, just have to stay focussed.”

Alan Permane, Racing Director

“We are obviously very happy with today and how everything’s gone. First of all, starting with Isack, to be less than two tenths off his teammate in Q2 is fantastic, so all credit to him for a really well managed weekend. We are certainly looking forward to seeing what he can do the rest of the season. And then of course Yuki, just brilliant at simply perfect lap in Q3, fifth on the grid. It doesn’t get much better than that! We now look forward to see what we can do tomorrow.”

Williams

Alex Albon, 6th, 1:15.737

“We were aiming for top ten, so P6 is fantastic and I’m very happy. We have a great car, easy to drive, predictable; it feels like a much more drivable car this year. It’s really tight out there and it’s going to be a dogfight in the midfield this year, but this is a great place for us to start. It also feels like Qualifying is not even the best bit of the car; where we’ve made the biggest improvement is the race pace. We’ve done some big things back at Grove. We have paid attention to this year, we are starting on the right weight and we are in a much healthier place than we were this time last year. When I look at where we were a year ago up to now, we’re in a completely different position. I’m very proud of the team today and there are good vibes. We’re expecting rain tomorrow and nobody has done a lap on the Intermediate or Wet tire so let’s see what happens.”

Carlos Sainz, 10th, 1:16.062

“First of all, I’m very happy for the entire team, for Alex and for myself. It’s my first Qualifying with Williams and we have achieved our main objective of getting into Q3 with both cars. The hard work that everyone has done during the winter has paid off with a great step forward and I’m proud of the team. On my side, I had a bit of a scrappy Qualifying to be honest. However, I’m not concerned. There are many things that I still need to understand from this car and I’m sure better laps will come soon! Tomorrow, under rain, I will also have to adapt quickly but I’m excited about the race. We will try to maximize every opportunity. This is only the beginning!”

James Vowles, Team Principal

“What a fantastic day for the team. I’m really pleased for Alex, he put in a really great lap out there and delivered when it mattered. I’m disappointed for Carlos – we know there is more in it but ultimately, we weren’t clean on execution. The great news is it’s a good place to start, the weather coming in tomorrow will provide plenty of opportunity and the team has renewed energy.”

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc, 7th, 1:15.755

“The lap wasn’t great, all in all, we just didn’t have the pace today. We mainly struggled with the balance of the car and putting it all together, so we have some work to do. We expect rain and tricky conditions for the race, so we will give it everything and see what’s possible.”

Lewis Hamilton, 8th, 1:15.973

“It isn’t quite where we wanted to be but overall I’m satisfied with the progress we have made over the past two days. We didn’t expect to be eight or nine tenths behind pole but given this is a weekend of firsts for me, I didn’t underestimate how steep the learning curve would be. Charles has more experience of course, but I’m building confidence with the car and learning how to unlock its potential.

“Now we will get our heads down and try to find out how we can close the gap. Tomorrow is going to be a challenge, especially as I’ve not driven this car in the wet, but we will be giving it all we can to have a positive first race and be up there.”

Fred Vasseur, Team Principal

“Obviously, we can’t be satisfied with today’s qualifying result. We didn’t look too bad in Q1 and Q2, as we were one to two tenths off the McLarens. However, in Q3, we didn’t do a good job because we didn’t manage to run at the same pace as our opponents and as a result, we find ourselves in positions that do not reflect our true potential. Tomorrow’s race could be a completely different scenario, as our pace was good yesterday and the forecast is for rain. The points are handed out tomorrow and we must do a good job now, preparing every last detail. I really believe we have the potential to bring home plenty of points.”

Alpine

Pierre Gasly, 9th, 1:15.980

“We have been trying to find our feet all weekend and today I am pleased with the end result with ninth place in Qualifying. I would say that was close to the maximum today after some impressive pace from some of our rivals. We focus on ourselves, though, and I am happy with the steps we have made session by session. We got there in the end and the car felt strong enough to take us to Q3. As always, we all want more but we have an eye on tomorrow with the threat of some rain in the race. We are in a decent spot on the grid to be in contention for points and we will give it our best to begin the season on a positive note.”

Jack Doohan, 14th, 1:16.863

“A good day today and a positive Qualifying. We were unfortunate to be caught out by the yellow flag at the end of Q2 but these things happen and our pace looked strong before that. We need to focus on what we can control and when we had the possibilities we delivered. We made some changes between Free Practice 3 and Qualifying, which meant I felt more comfortable in the car straight away. A huge thank you to the team, both trackside and back at Enstone and Viry who worked hard to get us in the right place. Now our focus shifts to tomorrow. The goal will be to maximize the opportunities that present themselves, especially with whatever the weather may bring. We will need to position ourselves well strategically to get the best chance to progress up the field. I am looking forward to taking in the experience, making the most of our package and enjoying the rest of the weekend in front of the home crowd.”

Dave Greenwood, Racing Director

“We knew coming into the weekend that it would be extremely close and competitive, and that proved to be the case today with small margins covering the entire field. We had a productive Friday, and we are still exploring the envelope of the A525, which is the right thing to be doing at this point of the season. We have worked hard both at the track and back in Enstone and Viry overnight to optimize the car from this data. Today through Free Practice 3 and into Qualifying we have been able to concentrate on fine-tuning the package. In Qualifying, Pierre carried on from where he left off last season and did well to get into Q3. Jack had a solid day and was evenly matched but was unfortunately caught out by the yellow flag in the last sector on his final run in Q2. We know we’re in the mix in a tight midfield battle and with variable weather conditions expected tomorrow anything is possible, and we need to be there to capitalize on any opportunities that present themselves. It will be the same conditions for everyone and should make for an exciting GP.”

Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso, 12th, 1:16.453

“I’m pleased with today’s Qualifying as we ended up being close to the top 10 despite suffering with some floor damage during Q2.

“Q1 ended up being pretty good for us and we were comfortably in the top 10. I then ran wide at Turn 10 in Q2 and it damaged the floor a little.

“I think it’s a good sign that we were fighting for Q3 for the first Qualifying session of the season. Let’s see if it rains tomorrow as it’s not an easy place to race in the wet due to the visibility. We are ready and hopefully we can score points tomorrow.”

Lance Stroll, 13th, 1:16.483

“I think after everything we’ve seen this weekend P13 was a good result for us. We were just missing a tenth or two in Q2.

“It’s not where we want to be, but relative to the rest of the weekend Qualifying was our most competitive session.

“It looks like it’s going to be an interesting race tomorrow; if there’s rain it could mix things up. There are opportunities for points in those conditions but you need to have the confidence in the car beneath you.”

Andy Cowell, Team Principal

“After Q1 we looked to be in with a chance of the top 10, but it slipped away from us slightly in Q2.

“The car didn’t make the performance gains we expected as the session progressed and we will continue to work on improving driveability.

“The weather forecast suggests rain is on the way, which could make things interesting. There is plenty to play for tomorrow and from P12 and P13 we can target some points.”

Kick Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg, 17th, 1:16.579

“The first lap was okay, but I still don’t feel like being the boss in the car and it takes a while to grow confidence. On my second quick lap I had a bit of traffic in sector one, which basically knocked me out in Q1. When you look at the times the field is very compact, which means that small things can have a big impact. It feels like we didn’t maximize our opportunities today, which is not a real surprise, given that it’s early days with a new team and a new car. Let’s see what the conditions will be like tomorrow. If it rains, it will be a new game. We will do our best.”

Gabriel Bortoleto, 15th, 1:17.520

“I’m feeling quite okay – I think we did a decent job as a team, maximizing the learnings from the three practice sessions. Q1 went smoothly; we put everything together and made the cut. I think making it into Q2 in my first-ever qualifying is definitely not bad. I wanted to give it a shot at Q3 and pushed a little too hard on my lap – I still managed to keep the car on track, but it didn’t really make sense to try again. Still, I think we can be quite satisfied with the job done today. Looking ahead to tomorrow, there’s a high chance of rain: anything can happen in these conditions, especially on a circuit like this. With a clean race and no mistakes, I think we can achieve a decent result, so I am looking forward to it.”

James Key, Technical Director

“We have mixed emotions today, because it feels like there was an opportunity to be a little further up the grid. But equally, it’s good to be close to many of our direct competitors. The first two days in Melbourne showed that it’s incredibly close. You just have to look at the lap times that we saw in Q1. But I’m sure that will continue to be the case through the year. We have improved the car during the weekend but there are still some steps ahead to find a better and more consistent setup; however, our long run pace looks reasonable. We have got some developments on the way over the next races which we hope will move us forward amongst this very tight pack. A big thank you to everyone in the team for the hard work in recent weeks for getting the cars prepared for the first race with several new developments which were finalized very late.”

Haas

Esteban Ocon, 19th, 1:17.147

“It’s been difficult, a bit of a surprise to be honest compared to where we looked in testing. Historically, it’s been a difficult track for the team, but we didn’t expect to be this far back. We’ve made steps in each session which is encouraging, but we clearly need more. Tomorrow, we’ll go again and try to get the maximum out of the opportunity with rain forecast.”

Oliver Bearman, 20th, No time set

“It’s disappointing to not get a lap on the board but it’s been a messy weekend so far. I think tomorrow will be interesting, and then we can move on. As a team we’ve struggled a little bit and of course I haven’t run all weekend, and that’s made it tough for the team to understand as they’ve been only running one car, so I can only apologize to the team.”

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal

“Another difficult day with the performance issue we had yesterday. We worked as much as possible to improve the car, which we did, but ultimately it wasn’t good enough. We’re lacking a lot in high-speed corners, and we didn’t see that coming from Bahrain testing, but this is the reality currently and we need to find a solution as quickly as possible. It’s of course going to be helpful if it’s raining because if it’s dry, we simply don’t have pace. With our understanding of the issue, a wet race may help, but we’ll put everything into it tomorrow – we won’t give up.”

Pirelli

Mario Isola, Motorsport Director

“A very close and spectacular qualifying session, a statement supported by the data, with the 15 qualified drivers in Q2 separated by a little over seven tenths, seven teams in the top ten and nine in Q2. The final run in Q3 was very exciting with pole position changing hands four times.

“Tomorrow looks like being very unpredictable, firstly because the current forecast is for heavy rain in the morning, which is due to weaken in the afternoon. Therefore, we could be confronted with three possible scenarios. The first is for a race run entirely in the wet, in which case anything could happen. For us, it could be an opportunity to see the new extreme wet tire in action, modified this year with a slightly different tread design.

“The second is that it’s run entirely in the dry, in which case, based on the much lower level of graining compared to previous years, that we have seen over the past two days, the one-stop could be the quickest solution featuring the Medium and Hard. The C3 and C4 have both shown almost zero degradation with very similar performance levels. Furthermore, even if the race is run entirely in the dry, we need to consider the possibility that the track surface condition will have been reset because of earlier rain and lower temperatures, conditions that are more likely to lead to graining. In this case, the two-stop could be the most popular option, once again featuring the Medium and Hard. The third scenario is a race run in mixed conditions, starting on a wet or damp track requiring intermediate tires, prior to a switch to slicks. In this case, the drivers could try to extend the Intermediate stint as much as possible before switching to the Hard. The Soft could only come into play if the switch to slicks occurred in the closing stages. Whatever happens, it looks like being a fun afternoon!”