A new F1 season begins in Australia. (Getty)
Lewis Hamilton will start the Australian Grand Prix on the pole position. The F1 qualifying process has endured sharp criticism after changes were made over the offseason.
Hamilton is no stranger to success in Melbourne. He won last year’s race in Melbourne and eventually became the 2015 champion. Hamilton will look to defend both titles as the F1 series begins a new season in Australia.
The race begins on Sunday at 1 a.m. Eastern and will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network in the United States.
Here’s a look at the starting grid for the Australian Grand Prix courtesy of F1.
1. 44 LEWIS HAMILTON MERCEDES
2. 6 NICO ROSBERG MERCEDES
3. 5 SEBASTIAN VETTEL FERRARI
4. 7 KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN FERRARI
5. 33 MAX VERSTAPPEN TORO ROSSO
6. 19 FELIPE MASSA WILLIAMS
7. 55 CARLOS SAINZ TORO ROSSO
8. 3 DANIEL RICCIARDO RED BULL RACING
9. 11 SERGIO PEREZ FORCE INDIA
10. 27 NICO HULKENBERG FORCE INDIA
11. 77 VALTTERI BOTTAS WILLIAMS
12. 14 FERNANDO ALONSO MCLAREN
13. 22 JENSON BUTTON MCLAREN
14. 30 JOLYON PALMER RENAULT
15. 20 KEVIN MAGNUSSEN RENAULT
16. 9 MARCUS ERICSSON SAUBER
17. 12 FELIPE NASR SAUBER
18. 26 DANIIL KVYAT RED BULL RACING
19. 8 ROMAIN GROSJEAN HAAS
20. 21 ESTEBAN GUTIERREZ HAAS
21. 88 RIO HARYANTO MANOR
22. 94 PASCAL WEHRLEIN MANOR
