Mercedes has thrown down the gauntlet in Melbourne, while four-time World Champion Max Verstappen’s start to life in the new generation of Formula One cars has made a horror start, crashing out of qualifying just moments into his first flying lap.

Englishman George Russell will start on pole for the Australian Grand Prix after a dominant Saturday, but while his teammate Kimi Antonelli posted the second-fastest time, he is unlikely to start on the front row by the time stewards complete a series of investigations into the young gun’s tough day.

Hometown hero Oscar Piastri looked solid all day but couldn’t put it all together in Q3 to end up fifth with reigning champion Lando Norris sixth.

Isak Hadjar stunned on Red Bull debut, claiming third, which should become second, after his teammate wiped out.

Verstappen was one of the last cars to enter Albert Park for Q1 after Russell set a scorching early benchmark.

But the Dutchman found himself plummeting towards the tyre barrier at nearly 300km/h before even entering the first corner after braking as his car’s engine attempted to switch between its combustion engine and electrical turbo, locking the rear axle.

It sent the back of the Red Bull skidding away from the turn, meaning the 28-year-old was merely a passenger as his car careened through the gravel trap and into the barriers.

The incident ended Verstappen’s session and caused a red flag, meaning he will start at the back of the grid for Sunday’s season-opening Grand Prix.

The red flag was a stroke of luck for Mercedes, who were engaged in a race against time to rebuild Antonelli’s car after he obliterated the back end with a major shunt during Saturday morning’s practice.

However, a basic error is set to cost them dearly after Antonelli was released in Q3 with two cooling devices still attached to the vehicle which flew off on track, one run over and spectacularly destroyed by Norris’ McLaren.

Neither Lance Stroll of Aston Martin nor Carlos Sainz for Williams made it onto the track, meaning they joined Cadillac pair Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as well as Fernando Alonso, in being eliminated in Q1.

Russell became the first man to register a time inside the 1.18.00s as he remained a half-second ahead of the rest of the pack, while the rebuild job on Antonelli also held up remarkably well as he entered the top four in Q2.

Hadjar performed well as Red Bull’s lone ranger to claim a place in the top 10 shootout, while Gabriel Bortoleto claimed the final spot in Q3 to give Audi something to celebrate at their maiden race weekend as the team appears to have shed the troubles of their Sauber past to lead the mid-pack teams.

However, the jubilation didn’t last, as engine trouble meant he didn’t return to pit lane in time to have a crack at bettering 10th.

Britain’s youngest-ever driver, Arvid Lindblad, also made it through to the top 10 on debut alongside his Racing Bulls teammate and Kiwi Liam Lawson.

QUALIFYING RESULTS

1. George Russell (Mercedes)

2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)*

3. Isak Hadjar (Red Bull)

4. Charles LeClerc (Ferrari)

5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

6. Lando Norris (McLaren)

7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

8. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

9. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)

10. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)

11. Niko Hulkenberg (Audi)

12. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

13. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

15. Alex Albon (Williams)

16. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

17. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

18. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

19. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

20. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

21. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

22. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)