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Formula 1
Australian GP
2012 Australian Grand Prix Qualifying
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That's it from the Live team for now. Join us tomorrow for all the race action from Albert Park as the 2012 season kicks off.
An entertaining qualifying session with several big talking points. There are a few investigations so stick with AUTOSPORT throughout the day for news on the decisions from the stewards.
Rosberg suffered for that lock-up at Turn 3 and ended up seventh, with Maldonado eighth, Hulkenberg ninth and Ricciardo did not set a time.
Webber and Vettel will begin Red Bull's title defence from fifth and sixth on the grid. Yes, there will be cars in front of them tomorrow.
Grosjean is a sensational third for Lotus with Schumacher fourth with his final attempt.
Hamilton abandons his final run and steps out of the car, delighted with a rapid 1m24.922s pole lap.
A wonderful result for the Briton and McLaren team-mate Button locks out the front row of the grid.
Lewis Hamilton takes pole position for the Australian Grand Prix!
Vettel comes through and it's only sixth for the Red Bull driver.
Button can't do enough, he restores the McLaren one-two but it looks good for Hamilton...
Schumacher crosses the line and he moves into fourth with a time of 1m25.336s.
Grosjean goes a remarkable second for Lotus!
Hamilton has had a poor stat to his second attempt and could be under pressure from his team-mate.
Vettel is slow in the first sector. It won't happen today for the champion.
Button is the fastest man through the first sector.
Rosberg locks up heavily into Turn 3 on his hot lap. That could be that for the German.
9 min: The flag is out as the final flying laps get underway.
9 min: One minute remaining on the clock in a fascinating pole shootout.
8 min: The two Mercedes drivers and Vettel are back out onto the track for their final attempt at Hamilton's 1m24.922s.
8 min: @Lotus_F1Team: "Back to to the garage for @RGrosjean Fresh set of soft tyres going on yfrog.com/oep8vqtj"
8 min: Webber crosses the line and moves into second with a lap of 1m25.651s, but he is miles behind Hamilton's benchmark.
8 min: Hamilton heads out to defend his provisional pole.
7 min: Hamilton's advantage is over seven tenths from Vettel, but more is expected from Mercedes when the pair get onto fresh rubber.
7 min: ... and a further two-tenths shy in the second sector of the lap.
7 min: Webber is three-tenths off Hamilton's first sector time.
7 min: Webber is on soft tyres and he is now in the middle of his first effort.
7 min: Hamilton is pushed back into the McLaren garage after a very successful first run. He leads the battle for pole into the second attempts.
6 min: Rosberg and Schumacher are quickly back into the pits and have been wheeled back in by the Mercedes mechanics.
6 min: Grosjean banks a 1m25.839s and is fifth for the moment in his Lotus.
6 min: Hulkenberg, Ricciardo and di Resta have also yet to leave the pits.
5 min: Button is over eight tenths slower than the strong lap from his team-mate and is now fourth.
5 min: Webber has only just left the pits and it's one run for the Australian in the shootout.
5 min: Vettel comes round in 1m25.668s and that gets him second for the moment.
4 min: Schumacher moves into second spot behind Hamilton with a lap of 1m25.716s.
4 min: Hamilton clocks a fast 1m24.922s to set a strong early benchmark for McLaren.
4 min: Watching on from his home in Brazil, @rubarrichello tweets: "the top 10 now shows who really made their homework well...it looks like the biggest improvement came from Mercedes GP"
4 min: Rosberg is round the final corners. He runs wide at the exit of Turn 14 and delivers 1m25.847s.
3 min: Hamilton pips the Mercedes pair to the fastest first sector time.
3 min: Flying laps begin, with teams finally unveiling their true pace on low fuel.
3 min: Schumacher is fourth on the road and will cross after Rosberg and the two McLaren drivers.
By: Emlyn Hughes, Geoff Creighton, Sam Tremayne
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