Red Bull/Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time for Mercedes in a wet qualifying session to claim pole position for the Australian Grand Prix.
Hamilton was last over the line to edge out Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo during a thrilling conclusion to Q3.
Ricciardo had taken provisional pole to the delight of the home crowd but Hamilton narrowly eclipsed the Australian.
Nico Rosberg was third for Mercedes, ahead of McLaren rookie Kevin Magnussen. Fernando Alonso was fifth, ahead of Jean-Eric Vergne and Nico Hulkenberg.
Daniil Kvyat made it through to Q3 and set the eighth best time despite clipping the barriers on the approach to turn 11. Valtteri Bottas qualified ninth but will drop five places after a gearbox penalty while Williams team-mate Felipe Massa rounded out the top 10.
Q2 took place in tricky conditions and took with it three world champions.
Jenson Button was 11th fastest, while Kimi Raikkonen ended his session in the barriers after losing control at turn four. He ended the session in 12th, while reigning champion Sebastian Vettel was only 13th.
Adrian Sutil was 14th while Kamui Kobayashi made it through to Q2 and edged out Sergio Perez for 15th.
Q1 began in dry conditions but rain began falling and intensified with five minutes of the session remaining.
That left Max Chilton in 17th place, ahead of Jules Bianchi and Esteban Gutierrez. The Sauber driver will however drop to the back of the grid after picking up a five place grid penalty due to a gearbox change.
Marcus Ericsson set the 20th quickest time while it was another miserable day for Lotus. Romain Grosjean set the slowest time via a run through the gravel while team-mate Pastor Maldonado failed to set a time and twice found the gravel trap.
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:31.699 | 1:42.890 | 1:44.231 | 22 |
| 2 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull Racing-Renault | 1:30.775 | 1:42.295 | 1:44.548 | 20 |
| 3 | 6 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:32.564 | 1:42.264 | 1:44.595 | 21 |
| 4 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:30.949 | 1:43.247 | 1:45.745 | 19 |
| 5 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1:31.388 | 1:42.805 | 1:45.819 | 21 |
| 6 | 25 | Jean-Eric Vergne | STR-Renault | 1:33.488 | 1:43.849 | 1:45.864 | 21 |
| 7 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India-Mercedes | 1:33.893 | 1:43.658 | 1:46.030 | 20 |
| 8 | 26 | Daniil Kvyat | STR-Renault | 1:33.777 | 1:44.331 | 1:47.368 | 20 |
| 9 | 19 | Felipe Massa | Williams-Mercedes | 1:31.228 | 1:44.242 | 1:48.079 | 21 |
| 10 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas* | Williams-Mercedes | 1:31.601 | 1:43.852 | 1:48.147 | 19 |
| 11 | 22 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:31.396 | 1:44.437 | 13 | |
| 12 | 7 | Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari | 1:32.439 | 1:44.494 | 13 | |
| 13 | 1 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull Racing-Renault | 1:31.931 | 1:44.668 | 13 | |
| 14 | 99 | Adrian Sutil | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:33.673 | 1:45.655 | 12 | |
| 15 | 10 | Kamui Kobayashi | Caterham-Renault | 1:34.274 | 1:45.867 | 13 | |
| 16 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Force India-Mercedes | 1:34.141 | 1:47.293 | 13 | |
| 17 | 4 | Max Chilton | Marussia-Ferrari | 1:34.293 | 5 | ||
| 18 | 17 | Jules Bianchi | Marussia-Ferrari | 1:34.794 | 5 | ||
| 19 | 21 | Esteban Gutierrez* | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:35.117 | 7 | ||
| 20 | 9 | Marcus Ericsson | Caterham-Renault | 1:35.157 | 5 | ||
| 21 | 8 | Romain Grosjean | Lotus-Renault | 1:36.993 | 6 | ||
| 22 | 13 | Pastor Maldonado | Lotus-Renault | No time | 3 |
* Driver will drop five places due to grid penalty
