Mercedes' world champion Lewis Hamilton picked up where he left off last year to reassert his authority and snatch a record-extending eighth pole position at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Saturday.
The Briton clocked a fastest lap of one minute 20.486 to narrowly pip team-mate Valtteri Bottas, with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel third, but well off the pace on 1:21.190.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen was fourth and Ferrari newcomer Charles Leclerc fifth. The 34-year-old is the pole master in Melbourne, claiming it eight times and every year since 2014, although he has only twice, in 2008 and 2015, won a race at Albert Park.
He knocked out his rivals with a blistering lap at the death to claim an 84th career grid-leading time in his 230th race.
"I'm shaking, it was so close out there," said Hamilton.
"Coming from testing we had no idea where we would be, but the guys in the factory have been working so hard towards this weekend.
"Valtteri did an exceptional job, it was so close."
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