The 2025 Formula 1 season kicked off with an enthralling qualifying session at Albert Park, Melbourne, offering a mixed bag of surprises, disappointments, and reaffirmations of driving prowess. The race for pole position, however, was less than competitive. Let’s delve into the key winners and losers from this season’s inaugural qualifying event.
Ferrari started the season on a considerably low note, failing to secure a top-six position in Q3 – a disappointment for the team and its drivers, Liam Lawson and Kimi Antonelli, who were eliminated in Q1. The drivers struggled with their second set of tyres in Q2, with Charles Leclerc voicing concerns about his tyre longevity. The Q3 session was equally fraught, with Leclerc aborting his final lap and Lewis Hamilton unable to improve on his Q2 performance.
Tyre usage was a particular issue for Ferrari, with suggestions that the team was using the tyres differently than McLaren, opting to gently ease the tyres into their runs. This strategy, aimed at enhancing race pace longevity at the expense of qualifying speed, did not prove successful with the latest Pirelli tyre range, especially the tricky C5.
McLaren, on the other hand, emerged as clear winners from the qualifying session. The team dominated the front row and held a substantial advantage of three-tenths of a second over the next quickest car. Despite initial struggles with their Q3 laps, the final laps showcased McLaren’s superiority over Red Bull and Mercedes, potentially pointing to their better handling of the revised C5 Pirelli tyre.
Ollie Bearman’s performance was a notable disappointment. The rookie driver, touted as well-prepared for the season, managed only 15 laps over two days due to two crashes and a gearbox issue during qualifying.
Max Verstappen’s third-place finish on the grid was an encouraging outcome for Red Bull, given their challenging pre-season. Although trailing McLaren, Verstappen’s performance positioned Red Bull as the best of the rest, underscoring his knack for damage limitation.
Yuki Tsunoda, in a Racing Bulls car, secured a commendable fifth place, just two-tenths behind Verstappen. This performance stood out, especially considering Tsunoda was overlooked by Red Bull in favor of a different teammate.
Liam Lawson’s performance was underwhelming. Despite a power unit issue that restricted his practice session, Lawson’s Q1 exit, punctuated by several overshoots and tyre issues, was an unfortunate start to his first qualifying session with Red Bull.
Kimi Antonelli, another rookie, started the weekend promisingly but fell short during qualifying. A kerb strike incurred damage to his car, resulting in a performance dip and an eventual Q1 exit.
Haas had a difficult start, with their VF-25 underperforming significantly. Esteban Ocon’s slowest time in Q1 and the team’s inability to make overnight improvements highlighted their struggles.
Alex Albon, representing Williams, managed a top-six position on the Melbourne grid, indicating the team’s significant improvement over the past year. This performance also placed him ahead of seasoned racer Carlos Sainz.
Aston Martin, despite a promising start in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, failed to replicate their form in 2025. While Fernando Alonso’s Q1 performance indicated potential, a wide run and ensuing damage led to his Q2 exit.
Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto made a strong start, advancing to Q2 with Sauber – a team that had spent most of 2024 trying to avoid Q1 embarrassments. Bortoleto’s performance was particularly impressive given he outperformed his experienced team-mate, Nico Hulkenberg.
As the season unfolds, it will be intriguing to see how teams and drivers adapt to the challenges, and whether the winners and losers of the first qualifying session can maintain or alter their trajectories respectively.