Mercedes' Hamilton takes pole in Australian Grand Prix

Mercedes Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton on Saturday took a stunning pole position at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix as McLaren and Honda qualified last.

The world champion beat teammate Nico Rosberg by more than half a second as Mercedes once again maintained domination.

Williams' Felipe Massa beat Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to finish third.

Hamilton's brilliant lap was 0.594 seconds quicker than Rosberg and a massive 1.391 seconds clear of Massa as Mercedes confirmed pre-season impressions that they will be virtually unbeatable again this season.

The team will start Sunday's race on the front row for the ninth consecutive race.

"It has been a great start to the weekend," BBC.com quoted Hamilton as saying.

"It doesn't feel that long since the last race. It has been a big rush and huge effort from the factory to get us here with this performance," he added.

"It is so much fun in qualifying and I am just massively grateful for all the hard work."

His teammate Rosberg said, "Lewis was on impressive form. He did an awesome job and nailed the time. For me, the speed was there; I just didn't get it together."

Williams won a tight battle with Ferrari, with just 0.072 seconds separating Massa in third from Kimi Raikkonen in fifth, with Sebastian Vettel in between in fourth place.