Live: Follow qualifying for the Australian GP

Follow qualifying for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix live with F1i.com.

A new qualifying format will be used for the first time, with a tight battle having emerged between Mercedes and Ferrari during FP3. The only practice session to feature serious dry running saw Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel separated by 0.2s.

Toro Rosso also impressed in final practice, as did Red Bull with a fight expected between those two teams and Williams to reach the final part of qualifying.

The new qualifying system will take place across the same three parts as last season, with Q1 seeing seven cars knocked out. Following an initial eight-minute period, the slowest car will be knocked out at 90-second intervals. In Q2, the same format applies after an initial seven-minute period, leaving eight cars in Q3.

The final part of qualifying will see eliminations start after six minutes until two cars are left fighting it out for pole position.

F1i's live coverage will bring you all the latest information about what is happening on track as well as news and features from the paddock.

Follow qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix LIVE

F1i's Australian Grand Prix preview

2016 F1 season: Team-by-team preview

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

Aston Martin says performance shortfall led to Fallows exit

Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough has shed some light on why the team’s former…

60 mins ago

FIA clamps down on plank loophole after Red Bull complaint

The FIA has issued a pivotal Technical Directive to F1 teams ahead of this weekend’s…

2 hours ago

F1 drivers blindsided by race director Wittich’s sudden exit

The abrupt removal last week of FIA race director Niels Wittich with just three races…

4 hours ago

McLaren relaxes ‘papaya rules’: Norris and Piastri free to race

Oscar Piastri has confirmed that McLaren’s team orders—dubbed the "Papaya Rules"—have been largely relaxed, giving…

5 hours ago

Cheers to the forever young pure racer Jacques Laffite

The forever young Jacques Laffite turns 81 today, but the years haven't aged this pure…

6 hours ago

Las Vegas GP: Wednesday's build-up in pictures

The neon lights of Las Vegas are set to illuminate the Formula 1 world once…

7 hours ago