Hamilton to start from pole post topping timesheets in practice in Australian GP

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton would start from the pole position in the season opener at Australia on Sunday after topping the timesheets all weekend and capturing pole for the fourth time in Australia, with a blistering 1.26.3.

Mercedes locked the first row at Albert Park after Nico Rosberg qualified 0.594 seconds behind his rival and teammate Hamilton at Albert Park on Saturday.

Hamilton is bidding for a third Formula One world title, having won the championship first in 2008 and then in 2014, after a dominant display last season, News.com.au reported.

Williams' Felipe Massa would start from third on the grid ahead of the Ferrari duo of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.

Massa's teammate Valtteri Bottas would start from the sixth place on the grid followed by Australian racer Daniel Ricciardo for Red Bull.

McLaren endured a horror qualifying as Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen both failed to get out of the first session and the duo would start from the back of the grid with only Manor drivers Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi, who are yet to complete a lap this weekend, behind them, the report added.