Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain leads Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland through a corner during the qualifying session of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 15, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
MELBOURNE:
Lewis Hamilton snatched pole position from home favourite Daniel Ricciardo in the dying seconds of a thrilling Australian Grand Prix qualifying session Saturday, as world champion Sebastian Vettel failed to make the top 10.
Australia’s Ricciardo, embarking on his first race with Red Bull, stormed to the top of the field on his last run, before he was trumped by Mercedes’ Hamilton in a flying final lap.
The 2008 world champion’s team-mate, Nico Rosberg, placed third, with McLaren rookie Kevin Magnussen fourth and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso fifth in the season’s first qualifying session.
But there was a sensational miss for Vettel, who failed even to reach the final qualifying shoot-out and will start from 12th.
Hamilton’s Q3 time of one minute 44.231 seconds gave him his third Melbourne pole and the 32nd of his career, equalling the total reached by fellow Briton and ex-world champion Nigel Mansell.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2014.
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