Hamilton on pole as Ricciardo shines Down Under

(Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

 

Wow!! What a fantastic way to start F1 2014. The Mercedes AMG F1 Team showed that they are the team to beat as Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the Brackley based squad but the star of the wet qualifying was Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo who put the teams troubled winter behind them by qualifying in 2nd place alongside Hamilton in his home Grand Prix. He has also out qualified his team mate Sebastian Vettel who will start the race from 13th on the grid.

 

It was a great session for Nico Rosberg in the second Mercedes as the German qualified in third place just ahead of McLaren rookie Kevin Magnussen who produced a fantastic lap to put his MP4-29 in fourth place just ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

 

The Toro Rosso drivers had a fantastic session as Jean Eric Vergne set the sixth fastest time and will start the race just ahead of Sahara Force India's Nico Hulkenberg. Daniil Kvyat, making his debut for Toro Rosso this weekend did a great job by qualifying in 8th place.

 

The Williams Martini Racing Team were left disappointed as Felipe Massa qualified in 9th place just ahead of team mate Valtteri Bottas, however for Bottas he has had to make a change to his gearbox so has been given a five place grid penalty so will start the race in 15th place.

 

Jenson Button moves in 10th place following Bottas's penalty. Kimi Raikkonen had a disappointing session and will start from 11th on the grid after making a mistake in the extremely tricky conditions. Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel will start the race from 12th on the grid.

 

Adrian Sutil will start from 13th on the grid for the Sauber F1 Team while on his return to F1 Kamui Kobayashi with the Caterham F1 Team as he will start the race from 14th place.

 

Sergio Perez had a disappointing session for the Sahara Force India F1 Team as he will start the race from 16th place. Marussia's Max Chilton will start 17th, out-qualifying team mate Jules Bianchi. Esteban Gutierrez had a disappointing session for the Sauber F1 Team as he qualified in 19th place but will have to take a five place grid penalty due to a gearbox change. Marcus Ericsson will make his Formula One debut for Caterham from 20th place.

 

It was an absolutely disastrous day for the Lotus F1 Team as Romain Grosjean qualified in 21st while Pastor Maldonado did not set a time qualified in 22nd however both the Enstone drivers will move up one place as Gutierrez will start from the back.

 

©Ben Johnston 2014