It's time for the first qualifying session of the 2025 Formula 1 season. McLaren enter the new campaign as the team to beat, but will they be able to deliver pace-wise on Saturday? Or will reigning champion and last year's Melbourne pole-sitter Max Verstappen begin with a bang?

Today is the day, then. For all of pre-season and even during the first three practice sessions we have had here so far, the mantra has been “we’ll see after qualifying in Melbourne”. That is that whatever teams have been holding back or not, there is no place to hide when it comes to the first session that sets the grid for 2025.

The 24-race, 2025 Formula One season begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend. McLaren and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen start their respective defences of the constructors’ and drivers’ championships, with two free-practice sessions today ahead of qualifying tomorrow. Today: FP1 (9:30pm ET), FP2 (1am ET).