George Russell secured pole position for Mercedes at the Formula One season-opening Australian Grand Prix, with teammate Kimi Antonelli locking up the front row. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen crashed out in the first qualifying session.
Russell's lap time was 0.293 seconds faster than Antonelli's. This marks Mercedes' first pole in Melbourne since 2019.
Antonelli faces scrutiny after his car dropped cooling-fan parts during Q3, causing a red flag. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar will start third, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc fourth.
Verstappen's qualifying ended early when he locked up and hit the barrier on his first flying lap. He will start at the back of the grid, depending on repairs. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and both Cadillac drivers were also eliminated in Q1.