HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action from a tense qualifying session in Melbourne

As the sun set around Albert Park, it was Charles Leclerc who shone the brightest as the Ferrari man took the first Australian Grand Prix pole position since 2019.

Leclerc set a blazing time of 1m 17.868s to lead the Red Bull duo of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez by 0.286s and 0.372s respectively. Leclerc’s team mate Carlos Sainz qualified a surprising P9 after suffering an issue in the pits.

Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell qualified in fifth and sixth respectively, but they were sandwiched by the McLaren pair of Lando Norris in fourth position and home favourite Daniel Ricciardo who qualified in P7.

READ MORE: Leclerc holds off Red Bull charge to take pole in action-packed Australian Grand Prix qualifying

Fernando Alonso crashed out early in Q3 with a suspected hydraulics issue, but his French team mate Esteban Ocon qualified in P8.

Aston Martin’s difficult weekend did not get any easier after Lance Stroll and Nicholas Latifi crashed into each other, with the Aston Martin man handed a three-place grid penalty as a consequence.

Click on the video play above to relive the action from an exciting qualifying session in Melbourne

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