Lewis Hamilton in a class of his own as he secures stunning pole at Australian GP... and then taunts rival Vettel

• Hamilton takes pole ahead of Raikkonen and Vettel

• Bottas crashes out of Q3 without setting a time

It has taken just one race weekend for Lewis Hamilton to start needling Sebastian Vettel, as he celebrated a record-extending 73rd pole position in Australia by telling his world title rival: “I was waiting to put a good lap in, to wipe that smile off your face.”

Already, the Hamilton-Vettel duel, the first in Formula One history between two four-time world champions, is providing the anticipated sparks.

Having asserted his authority with a stunning pole lap at Melbourne’s Albert Park, eclipsing the Ferraris of Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen by over seven tenths of a second, Hamilton could not resist plunging the knife a little deeper with his press conference taunt.

Vettel, as is his wont, took it with a blank face but muttered, darkly: “What goes around, comes around.” This could be construed as a reference to the pair’s feud in Azerbaijan last year, when the German was sanctioned for deliberately bumping wheels with Hamilton behind a safety car. On that occasion, the British driver labelled his arch-rival a “disgrace”.

The tension between the two is palpable, as they vie to match Juan Manuel Fangio’s mark of five world championships. At the height of their squabbling after last season’s Baku incident, Hamilton all but challenged Vettel to a fist-fight, accusing him of dangerous driving and saying: “If he wants to prove that he is a man, we should do it out of the car, face-to-face.”

Theirs is a contretemps that promises to last all year, and possibly beyond, with both yet capable of surpassing Michael Schumacher as the most decorated driver of all. A further fascinating sub-plot is the increasing likelihood that Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian local hero known as much for his ready quips as for his audacious driving, will become Hamilton’s team-mate in 2019.

Ricciardo, who has just one year left to run on his Red Bull contract, has already expressed a desire to race alongside Hamilton. Mercedes, for their part, would have Ricciardo at the top of their wish-list should Valtteri Bottas, only on a one-year deal, fail to keep Hamilton honest this season. The Finn hardly helped his chances of staying beyond 2018 when he crashed spectacularly in the final session of Melbourne qualifying.

Several sources in the paddock believe that the Ricciardo move is all but assured, with Max Verstappen, the only other realistic contender for the second Silver Arrows seat, having committed to Red Bull until the end of 2020. F1 moves in capricious ways, however, and Ricciardo needs another campaign like 2014, when he eclipsed a reigning four-time world champion in Vettel by three victories to none, to convince Mercedes that he is worthy of the honour.

That quest hardly began auspiciously here, as the Australian received a three-place grid penalty for speeding under red-flag conditions in practice. “I’m p-----, to say the least,” he said. “It’s pretty bitter for me. Common sense should have prevailed.” 

While Ricciardo has also been tempted by a move by Ferrari – in part because of Kimi Raikkonen’s imminent retirement from the sport, in part because of his own Italian ancestry – it is the prospect of a duel with Hamilton that holds the greater appeal.

“Fernando Alonso’s getting towards the tail end of his career, so Lewis at the moment is more desirable for me to go up against,” he said recently. “I would like that. While Lewis is in his prime, I would like to challenge and see.”

Final positions after qualifying:

1 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1min 21.164secs

2 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:21.828

3 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:21.838

4 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:21.879

5 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:22.152

6 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:23.187

7 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:23.339

8 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:23.532

9 Carlos Sainz (Spa) Renault 1:23.577

10 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP No Time

11 Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:23.692

12 Stoffel Vandoorne (Bel) McLaren 1:23.853

13 Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 1:24.005

14 Lance Stroll (Can) Williams 1:24.230

15 Esteban Ocon (Fra) Force India 1:24.786

16 Brendon Hartley (Nzl) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:24.532

17 Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 1:24.556

18 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Sauber-Ferrari 1:24.636

19 Sergey Sirotkin (Rus) Williams 1:24.922

20 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:25.295

7:45AM

Tension between Vettel and Hamilton in the press conference

There has been talk of Mercedes supposed "party mode" in qualifying - where they crank up the engine power when they need to. Hamilton denied it. 

"I can assure you we don't have a party mode," he said.  "What were you doing before then?" was the German's reply.  "I was waiting to put a good lap in...to wipe the smile off your face," was Hamilton's final word. A burn. 

7:39AM

Provisional classification and timings for qualifying

7:37AM

A good day for Haas

They start tomorrow's race in the best-of-the-rest places. In fact they start it slightly above that, due to Bottas's crash and Ricciardo's penalty.  A good job, well done for Kevin and Romain. 

7:34AM

The Hulk happy, which is just as well...

...you wouldn't like him when he's angry. 

7:27AM

Raikkonen reacts to his P2

7:26AM

Fernando ready to score points tomorrow

He starts in P11. 

7:21AM

Verstappen close to the Ferraris

The Dutchman posted a 1.21.879 in Q3, whilst Vettel put in a 1.21.838 and Raikkonen and 1.21.828. Daniel Ricciardo was a little further back with a 1.22.152. He'll start eighth, though, after a grid penalty. 

7:17AM

Vettel reacts

"Looking forward to tomorrow. I think we improved the car. I think it's very close. I think we saw that yesterday in the long runs the pace is very close. Really happy I think for the team, it's a good result so let's get going."

I wouldn't say he sounds downbeat, more realistic. Race pace will be the key, though, and not having Bottas - or a Red Bull - between his car and Hamilton will be a boost, though. 

7:16AM

Top 10

7:15AM

Driver reaction from Hamilton

"My heart's racing. It's great to see this crowd here. I'm so happy with that lap. It was such a nice lap," says Hamilton. "What was surprising was to see how quick the Ferraris were." They were close all day, until it mattered. 

7:13AM

The best of the rest

Magnussen takes P6, Grosjean P7, Hulkenberg in P8 and Sainz in P9, all of whom were over two seconds off Hamilton's time but within 0.4 seconds of each other. Bottas is in P10, not setting a time. Don't forget that Ricciardo has a three-place grid penalty, though. 

7:12AM

Raikkonen goes second, Verstappen fourth...

Can Vettel take pole from Hamilton? He's down on this lap...No! He cannot. He doesn't even beat Raikkonen.  Hamilton takes pole by 0.664 seconds. That is a huge gap from a fantastic lap. 

7:10AM

Hamilton improves his time with a 1.21.164!

A new lap record and provisional pole!

7:09AM

Hamilton flying!

He's four tenths up in the first sector alone! 

7:09AM

This is what we wanted isn't it?

Looks like Vettel will be the last across the line in Q3. Hamilton behind Ricciardo on track, could that be a problem for the Briton?

7:07AM

The top five are within 0.335 seconds

Ricciardo in fifth. There could still be some movement. Sainz, Magnussen, Grosjean and Hulkenberg yet to set a lap time. 

7:05AM

Hamilton leads the way...just!

He sets a 1.22.051,  Verstappen then gets within six hundredths...Raikkonen within 0.2 seconds. Vettel is flying...but he misses out to Hamilton by just 0.034 seconds. Wow. That was close. This is close. 

7:02AM

Hamilton the first driver out

He sets a 27.1 in sector one...a 22.2 in sector two. It looks mighty so far.

6:59AM

Session to restart at 7AM GMT

They've cleaned up the mess and we're nearly ready to restart.  9:47 left on the clock. 

6:58AM

More of that Bottas crash

Valtteri seems okay, though, thankfully. 

6:57AM

Not the start Bottas would have wanted

Obviously. He ended last season with a win but needs a strong 2018 if he is to keep his seat at Mercedes. Wrecking his car in final qualifying is not an ideal start to a crucial season. He also wrecked Hamilton's first flying lap. 

6:54AM

Ouch...

6:51AM

Big crash for Bottas! Red Flag! 

Bottas looks to have had a huge crash there. He looses it a turn two. That is a big one. His Mercedes is in a right state. He's been pushing the track limits this weekend and has paid the price in Q3. 

6:48AM

Hamilton or Vettel? Raikkonen or Bottas? Or even a Red Bull?

We'll find out soon. Q3 begins!

6:47AM

Q2 initial classification

6:44AM

Drivers through to Q3

Vettel, Hamilton, Bottas, Verstappen, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Sainz, Magnussen, Grosjean and Hulkenberg. So Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, Renault and Haas. Red Bull set their times on the supersoft tyre, though.

6:42AM

Drivers eliminated in Q2

Alonso, Vandoorne, Perez, Stroll and Ocon. McLaren will be disappointed with that. As will Force India, but they didn't exactly set the world alight in Melbourne last year. 

6:41AM

Bottas posts a 1.22.089

Just a bit slower than Hamilton. But Vettel beats them both! He sets a 1.21.944! Both McLaren's, though, are out. This could be a close pole fight...

6:40AM

Grosjean goes into P7

Another flurry of activity at the end of a session. Magnussen then displaces his team-mate. Sainz and Vandoorne now in the drop zone. Vandoorne gets wide at the final corner and crosses the line in P12. He'll be out in Q2. 

6:37AM

In the elimination zone

With just over three minutes remaining: Stroll, Grosjean, Perez, Hulkenberg and Ocon. Hulkenberg and Ocon have yet to set a time, though. 

6:34AM

Those Q1 times in full

6:34AM

Red Bulls on supersoft tyres

Worth noting that both Red Bull drivers set their times on the supersoft, rather than the ultrasofts used by everyone else. 

6:32AM

A stormer from Hamilton!

1.22.051 from car number 44. Vettel is half a second behind him in third. Bottas is fourth, 0.6 seconds behind his team-mate. Ominous from Hamilton?  Ricciardo in sixth only a fraction behind Verstappen. 

6:31AM

Raikkonen goes quickest in Q2

He posts a 1.22.507, 0.323 ahead of Max Verstappen's Red Bull. I think last year's pole time will be beaten quite comfortably in 2018. 

6:27AM

Q2 underway

No massive surprises in Q1, then. Sirotkin was the driver to join Toro Rosso and Sauber in being eliminated. Raikkonen and Verstappen out, as is Vettel. 

6:24AM

Confirmed: The bottom five

6:23AM

McLaren through to Q2 with both cars

6:22AM

Hamilton quickest in Q1

Raikkonen's time does get beaten - by Hamilton.  His 1.22.824 is the best of the session. 

Top 10: Hamilton, Raikkonen, Vettel, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Sainz, Alonso, Grosjean, Bottas and Hulkenberg. 

6:20AM

It's a mad dash at the end of Q1

Hartley, Sirotkin and Leclerc fail to get out of Q1. Stroll puts his Williams into P14 and into Q2. Ericsson and Gasly also at the bottom and out.  The Saubers not at the bottom, though and Leclerc within around 0.1 of Ericsson. Not bad. 

6:16AM

Sector times

6:15AM

Grosjean into sixth now

The Haas looked quick yesterday. Grosjean puts his into P6 and team-mate Magnussen then goes P8, about 0.2 seconds behind his team-mate. 

6:13AM

Ericsson into P12

That looks a good lap in a Sauber that is a handful. That puts Sirotkin's Williams into the drop zone. Also suggests the track is only going to get quicker and quicker. Could we see a mad scramble at the end of Q1? Fingers crossed. 

6:10AM

Half-way in Q1...

Raikkonen leads Hamilton from Ricciardo, Verstappen, Bottas and Vettel. Alonso the best of the rest ahead of Sainz and Vandoorne. 

6:09AM

Fact time...

6:09AM

Ricciardo goes second, Verstappen third

That lap is looking mighty from Raikkonen. In the drop zone at the moment are  Gasly, Hartley, Ericsson, Stroll and Leclerc. 

6:07AM

Hamilton goes second, displaced by Bottas

He's 0.186 behind Raikkonen, but he did have to negotiate a couple of back-markers before the penultimate turn. The Mercedes looks like it is struggling for grip in some of those corners. 

Bottas then narrowly beats Hamilton to make it a Finnish 1-2. 

6:06AM

Raikkonen quickest with a 1.23.616

That's fairly rapid, it's over 0.3 ahead of his team-mate in the other Ferrari. Hamilton now on a hot lap, his first of the year in qualifying. He's down at the second sector... 

6:04AM

Hulkenberg sets the first time

1.25.348 for the Renault man. Sainz then beats it with a 1.24.655 to go ahead of his team-mate. 

6:01AM

We are go for 2018

Hulkenberg the first man out on his ultrasoft tyres. It's a dry Melbourne track, if you were wondering. 

5:57AM

It's almost time...

It has been a long wait since Abu Dhabi. The Halo has been introduced, the "coathangers" at the top of the car have gone and the cars are quicker. We've also got a new F1 logo, a soundtrack and flashier graphics. But will the racing be improved this year? More overtaking? Yes, please. 

5:46AM

Tyres - a handy explainer

The soft, supersoft and ultrasoft are available to the drivers this weekend, as well as the intermediates and wets. 

5:39AM

The big questions of 2018

There are a few of these to answer and we will go some way to finding the answers this weekend. How close are Ferrari and Red Bull to Mercedes? Have Red Bull leapfrogged Ferrari as the second best? Will Haas's impressive pre-season testing performance be replicated in the first race and beyond? Can McLaren lead the midfield battle? 

There are some smaller questions, too, like "how long before we get used to the halo on the on-board cameras"? 

5:28AM

"I don't think Ferrari has switched on the engine yet"

That's Toto Wolff's cagey assessment of how the front of the field lines up at the first Grand Prix. His former employee, Nico Rosberg, beside him, though, says he looks a bit more relaxed than usual. All will be revealed shortly, I suppose. 

5:17AM

Tricky conditions in final practice

Both Sainz and Verstappen had a couple of  "moments" in third practice...

2:58PM

Good morning! Hamilton will be title favourite again in 2018 but can he take pole in Melbourne? And how will Ferrari and Red Bull far?

Lewis Hamilton will start 2018 aiming for his fifth drivers' title and his fourth for Mercedes. But first he most focus on winning in Melbourne, something he failed to do last year. The world champion got off to an excellent start on Friday, topping the timesheets in both practice sessions - ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas in P1 and Red Bull's Max Verstappen in P2.

A wet final practice didn't tell us much, but it saw a Ferrari 1-2, with Vettel leading Raikkonen, 2.5 seconds back. Only three drivers - the two Ferraris and the Sauber of Marcus Ericsson - set a time on dry-weather tyres. The Force India cars did not set a timed lap at all.  That makes it difficult to read anything much into P3 times. 

What looked like a confirmation of the pace of the Silver Arrows in the morning session was rebutted in the afternoon session, as the margin between Hamilton and Verstappen was just 0.127 seconds.  On first impressions it seems like Red Bull will be challenging Ferrari more frequently this year. Daniel Ricciardo, though, will take a three place grid penalty as a consequence of not slowing down sufficiently under red flag conditions. 

Elsewhere in the field, Haas's Romain Grosjean put in a strong Friday to finish sixth, suggesting that the Haas might be as strong as they hope. The Frenchman does seem to go well on the streets of Albert Park, though. McLaren's partnership with Renault already looks better than their disastrous one with Honda but it looks like leading the midfield is the best they can hope for in 2018.  It looks mighty tight in the midfield. 

At the very back of the pack is Sauber, who are struggling immensely with their new-concept 2018 car.  In other news, there will be an additional DRS zone for the Australian Grand Prix this weekend, which runs down the "straight" from turn 12 to the tight turn 13. 

With a potentially damp Albert Park track for qualifying we should expect the unexpected, as the cliche goes. There are a few drivers handy in damp conditions and a few too who will be hoping for a wet weekend in Melbourne.