Lewis Hamilton takes pole in Australia

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton grabs a last-ditch pole position in a thrilling wet qualifying session at the Australian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes took pole position for the first Grand Prix of the new season
Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes took pole position for the first Grand Prix of the new season

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton grabbed a last-ditch pole position in a thrilling wet qualifying session at the Australian Grand Prix.

Hamilton edged out Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo by 0.317 seconds with the very last lap of the session.

Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel will start from 12th on the grid after a dramatic qualifying session in Melbourne.

The Red Bull driver was forced to slow down after Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen spun out during the last minute of Q2, the yellow flag costing the German vital seconds as he tried to make the top 10 shoot-out.

1 Hamilton – Mercedes

2 Ricciardo - Red Bull

3 Rosberg - Mercedes

4 Magnussen - McLaren

5 Alonso - Ferrari

6 Vergne - Toro Rosso

7 Hulkenberg - Force India

8 Kvyat - Toro Rosso

9 Massa - Williams

10 Bottas – Williams

Starting grid

It allowed Britain's Lewis Hamilton to claim pole position ahead of home favourite and Vettel's teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

Nico Rosberg will start third, Kevin Magnussen fourth and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso fifth. Briton Jenson Button will start 11th for Sunday's race on his McLaren. The other Ferrari driver, Kimi Raikkonen, crashed and will start from 12th.