Lando Norris’s pole position at the Australian Grand Prix was 0.385 seconds faster than the closest non-McLaren car, reinforcing the fears of Red Bull and Ferrari heading into the weekend.

With Oscar Piastri securing P2, McLaren locked out the front row, setting up a dream scenario for the Australian driver at his home race especially with no team orders in play.

But while McLaren thrived at Albert Park, their rivals Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc—struggled with overheating rear tires in the final sector, which ultimately highlighted McLaren’s key advantage.

McLaren’s Strength: Mastering the Soft Tires

The C5 soft compound has always been tricky at this circuit, particularly in high track temperatures exceeding 40°C.

The core of the tire isn’t strong enough to handle the high-speed middle sector and the demanding Turn 9-10 switchback that leads into the final sector.

Every team faced the challenge of managing tire temperatures keeping the front tires from cooling too much at the start of the lap while preventing the rear tires from overheating by the end.

The difference? McLaren handled this issue better than anyone else.

While all teams suffered to some extent, McLaren minimized the problem, whereas Red Bull and Ferrari fell deep into it by the time they reached sector three.

At the Turn 11 right-hander, Verstappen was actually 0.266s ahead of Norris, and Leclerc was just 0.074s behind. But as they tackled the final few corners demanding strong rear traction their tires gave up.

By the end of the lap, Verstappen was 0.385s behind and Leclerc had fallen 0.659s off pole. Their challenge collapsed as they struggled for grip.

The McLaren Advantage: Smooth, Stable, and Fast

Observing the cars through the Turn 9-10 complex, it was clear the McLaren handled the bumps like a limousine, maintaining significantly more entry speed than its rivals. Meanwhile, the Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes looked far more unstable.

Even McLaren wasn’t immune to the limits of the tires both Norris at Turn 4 and Piastri at Turn 11 had small moments on their first Q3 laps.

“As soon as you slide these tires at these temperatures, you lose a lot,” Piastri explained. “That’s how fine the line is around here. The car is quick, but it can bite if you push past the [ideal] tire temperature.”

Verstappen admitted that rear grip issues compromised his lap further. “The tires, we didn’t get on top of,” he said. “Even if we had, we didn’t have the pace for pole.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner echoed this, stating: “There was maybe another tenth in the car, but we were taking too much out of the tires in the first two sectors. The McLarens were brilliant on the tires.”

Red Bull’s Speed Returns, But at a Cost

Despite their struggles, Red Bull improved significantly from Friday when they were surprisingly slow on the straights.

With their power unit turned up, their usual DRS advantage seemed to be back.

Before the DRS zone on the kinking straight before Turn 9, both McLaren and Red Bull were level at 301 km/h. By the time they reached the braking zone for Turn 9, Red Bull had pulled 4 km/h ahead.

This extra speed helped Verstappen set the fastest middle sector time, proving that he was just as quick as the McLarens through Turn 9-10. However, that aggressive pace burned out his rear tires, leaving him vulnerable in the final sector.

Ferrari had a similar straight-line speed profile to McLaren, but neither Leclerc nor Hamilton could match the Red Bull/McLaren pace through Turn 9-10.

That alone was enough to push their rear tires over the limit by the final corners.

Sunday’s Race: Will the Rain Shake Things Up?

With heavy rain in the forecast for race day, the conditions will completely change the factors of competitiveness. Instead of rear tire overheating, the key battle will be about achieving a stable balance and keeping the front tires warm.

So far, McLaren’s smooth handling suggests it could remain strong in the wet, while Red Bull and Mercedes may struggle.

As for Ferrari? If their rear tires aren’t an issue, they could be a real threat.

But then again, Max Verstappen thrives in the rain…

Lewis Hamilton is navigating a tough start with Ferrari, confessing he’s unfamiliar with the rain settings for the SF-25.

The seven-time world champion secured eighth place in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday, finishing just behind his new teammate, Charles Leclerc.

Ferrari had hoped to challenge McLaren for pole position at Albert Park, but both cars ended up on the fourth row of the grid, trailing Yuki Tsunoda and Alex Albon, leaving the team disappointed.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Hamilton shared, “I generally feel good. Yeah, I had a really good time out there. Everything has been a first this weekend—my first P1 with Ferrari, my first practice sessions and qualifying. It’s been a lot of work to adapt to this car, which is so different from what I’ve experienced before.”

He added, “But it’s been interesting. I definitely didn’t expect us to be… I didn’t know we’d be nine-tenths off, or eight-tenths off today, but there’s a lot to analyze for sure.”

Looking ahead to the race, Hamilton said, “We’ll just get our heads down and start working to try and figure out why we’re not on pace with the frontrunners. Tomorrow is going to be a challenge. I’ve never even driven this car in the rain. I don’t even know the rain settings, so I’ve got to study that tonight, and it’ll be another learning experience tomorrow.”

Despite the challenges, Hamilton avoided major issues, staying clear of the elimination zone even after spinning at the end of his final Q2 lap. He was close to Leclerc in Q3, but Sunday’s race promises to be a tougher test.

Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari has been described as having “all the hallmarks of a fairytale,” with expectations soaring as he prepares for his Melbourne debut in the iconic red.

Sky F1 pundit Bernie Collins believes that Hamilton’s late-career switch could breathe new life into the seven-time World Champion, potentially ushering in “Lewis 2.0” on the Formula 1 grid.

Can Ferrari Unlock ‘Lewis 2.0’ in 2025?

Collins, a former Aston Martin head of strategy, admits she was taken aback when she first heard about Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes after 12 seasons and six world titles. However, a year later, that initial shock has transformed into excitement about what the sport’s most successful driver can achieve alongside his new teammate, Charles Leclerc, at Ferrari.

“This time last year I was shocked, but the more I’ve seen Lewis in red, the more I’ve seen his excitement at being in that car, he’s like a revitalised Lewis,” Collins told PlanetF1.com.

She highlighted that Hamilton has always thrived when faced with a challenge, a sentiment echoed by her partner, Ryan McGarva, who previously worked with Hamilton at Mercedes. “My other half [Ryan McGarva] worked with Lewis for a little while [at Mercedes] and tells me Lewis always did well in a year where he was challenged and up for it.”

Collins believes that Ferrari itself, as well as the battle against Leclerc, will be major tests for Hamilton. “Ferrari is going to be a challenge, beating Leclerc is going to be a challenge. So I think we’re going to see Lewis 2.0.”

Embracing the Ferrari Project

Since officially joining Ferrari and reuniting with team principal Fred Vasseur—who was instrumental in Hamilton’s early single-seater career—the Brit has fully immersed himself in his new environment.

Hamilton set up his motorhome close to Fiorano, Ferrari’s private racetrack, and even started learning Italian. Driving a Scuderia Ferrari car for the first time was, in his own words, “one of the best feelings” of his life.

“I don’t have the words to really explain just how excited I am,” Hamilton shared in a BBC interview. “I’m embarking on something brand new for me and something I didn’t think would happen when I turned 40.”

The magnitude of the moment hasn’t been lost on the F1 legend. “I’m still like pinching myself. I’m going to be starting a grand prix in red. I mean, wow.”

The Challenge Ahead

Ever since news of Hamilton’s move broke in February last year, the impact has been felt across the F1 world. With the most successful and influential driver in history now part of its most legendary team, expectations are sky-high.

Collins believes that Hamilton’s drive to compete has been reignited after several frustrating seasons at Mercedes. “I think we’re going to see a step up from the last three years where he’s been a bit upset that Mercedes weren’t going to turn things around.”

Since losing the 2021 title, Hamilton has not been in direct contention for a championship, but Collins predicts that is about to change. “Now we’re going to see Lewis fighting. It has all the hallmarks of a fairytale.”

The Key Battles for Hamilton

Currently, Hamilton is ranked fourth in the Drivers’ ante-post betting odds, behind Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and his new teammate, Leclerc.

Collins identifies a crucial challenge for Hamilton: “The big question is can he beat Leclerc in qualifying? Can he have the upper hand in the race? Qualifying is going to be Lewis’ challenge.”

She believes that a strong start could set the tone for his season. “If he can come out rolling in the first few races it’s going to be exciting. If he gets a taste of it in the first few races he’s going to be pretty hard to stop.”