Four-time world champion Lewis Hamilton reeled off a stunning lap during qualification to clinch pole position for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Saturday.
The 33-year-old Mercedes driver, who posted his fastest lap of one minute and 26.067 seconds, finished 0.664 faster than Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen to grab 73rd career pole position.
Raikkonen's teammate and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel finished at the third position in his Ferrari, Sport24 reported.
Meanwhile, the Red Bull pair of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo was fourth and fifth quickest respectively in the intense qualifying round.
However, it was mixed fortunes for Mercedes as Hamilton's team-mate Vatteri Bottas crashed heavily in the third and final qualifying race without setting a time, thus causing the session to be temporarily red-flagged.
Reigning F1 world champion Hamilton will aim to kick start his season on positive note when the Australian Grand Prix takes place on March 25.
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