Australian Grand Prix - Qualifying Facts and Stats

As Lewis Hamilton edged Valtteri Bottas for P1 at Albert Park to record pole number 84 of his career, here are the hot stat takes from qualifying for the 2019 Australian Grand Prix.

• Hamilton equals Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher’s records for the most poles at one venue – all three having scored eight at a particular circuit, Imola for Senna and Suzuka for Schumacher.

• Hamilton also equals Schumacher with the most poles for one team, this being his 58th for Mercedes

• ... but it’s not all good statistically for Hamilton. Having been on pole here every year since 2014, he’s only managed to convert one of those P1 starts into a win.

• Sebastian Vettel managed to win last year from third on the grid – the position he starts in for 2019.

• Max Verstappen starts P4, and to-date, he’s never run a lap in the top three in Australia.

• It’s the third year in a row that Romain Grosjean has started the Australian Grand Prix in sixth – although with five Australian Grand Prix DNFs, the Frenchman has the worst finishing record of any driver on the grid here.

• Lance Stroll in P16 recorded his fifth consecutive Q1 knock-out (carried over from 2018) – the longest streak of any driver on the grid.

• Lando Norris’ P8 is the best start for a McLaren driver on their debut since 2014.

• Norris' achievement came on a great day all around for the three rookies on this year's grid. Alexander Albon and George Russell both also outqualified their team mates.

• It’s the first time that both Williams - winners of the first ever race at Albert Park - have had both cars eliminated from Q1 in Melbourne.