1. L Hamilton McLaren 1:26.714

2. R Kubica BMW Sauber 1:26.869

3. H Kovalainen McLaren 1:27.079

4. F Massa Ferrari 1:27.178

5. N Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:27.236

6. J Trulli Toyota 1:28.527

7. N Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:28.687

By Ian Hughes

0410: So Hamilton begins his season on great form, taking another pole. Bad news for Ferrari with Raikkonen experiencing problems. Is it a sign of things to come?

Right if Hamilton gets pole ill ask this girl out for a drink? If not well, i'll never know.
Jack, Northampton, via text

Who dares wins, Jack. Good luck.

Well done Lewis. I said he would do it. The championship next.
Tim, Yeovil, via text.

Pole. Yeaaah, go Lewis the Boss.
Gaz, Devon, via text

0405: Kubica then briefly takes provisional pole as he records the fastest lap but almost immediately Hamilton goes faster to reclaim his position at the front of the grid.

0402: As things stand Hamilton is going to take pole for the first grand prix of the 2008 season.

0358: No-one has put in a flying lap yet. It could prove to be an unusual top 10 line-up tomorrow at this rate.

0357: Despite there being only a 10-minute session for the final session of qualifying, there aren't too many out on track.

0353: Hamilton looks in top form and his McLaren is behaving impeccably.

A surprise name in the top 10 is Toro Rosso's young German driver Vettel, who is driving incredibly well.

0348: Former world champion Alonso fails to make it into the top 10. Also out are Raikkonen, Webber, Nakajima and Button and Barrichello.

0346: Alonso begins his first hot lap of the session.

0343: And McLaren's Hamilton races to the top of the leaderboard, setting a 1:26.572. Kubica is second, with Kovalainen third. Alonso has yet to set a time.

0342: Massa drives his Ferrari into the lead, by a good distance. Hamilton is down in 14th but currently on a flying lap.

0340: David Coulthard is leading the way so far in this session, which is good news for Red Bull after the disappointment of Webber crashing out.

0338: The session restarts, and there will another six nervous drivers hoping to avoid the cut this time.

0336: Time for a Hamilton update. Of sorts.

You want a name?! Basically she just fancies the pants off Mr Hamilton plus shes quite a looker.
Jack, Northampton, via text.

0333: Red Bull's Mark Webber crashes out of the second session of qualifying - and it leads to a red flag. The Australian will be distraught to have suffered a problem in his grand prix. The session is stopped.

0330: Ferrari reveal that Raikkonen had a fuel pressure regulator problem. it seems likely he will start from 16th on the grid.

0326: Massive news just in that Raikkonen will take no further part in qualifying. It is a huge blow for the world champion and for Ferrari. He will start tomorrow's race from the second half of the grid.

0320: That's the first session of qualifying completed. Out go Giancarlo Fisichella, Sebastien Bourdais, Adrian Sutil, Takuma Sato, Nelson Piquet and Anthony Davidson.

0320: Honda are doing surprisingly well with Jenson Button moving up to 11th.

0317: Raikkonen sets his first lap time of the session, and goes fifth fastest. But he has a problem immediately after and makes slow progress back towards the pit line.

0316: There's the answer as Felipe Massa goes third fastest with a lap of 1:25.994.

0316: Ferrari are leaving it very to record a hot lap. Will it be costly? Or are they just brimming with confidence?

0315: The slowest six drivers will go out at the end of this first session.

0312: Hamilton makes a mistake on the penultimate turn and loses a bit of time but still sets a time of 1:26.572 to go second fastest behind Heikki Kovalainen.

0310: Fernando Alonso, Hamilton and Raikkonen are out on track - we'll soon see what the big guns are going to bring to the party.

0305: Lap times are coming down pretty quickly, as Bourdais is joined by Toro Rosso team-mate Sebastian Vettel and Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella among five others.

No sign of Hamilton yet. But there is news of a doppelganger for the young Brit, via text.

My mum said i looked like Lewis Hamilton today, shame a particular girl doesn't see it the same way!!
Jack, Northampton, via text

Who's the girl?

0302: Sebastien Bourdais is first out on the track and he sets a time of 1:30.250. The track is a bit dusty and conditions do not look to be particularly easy.

0300: And we're off.

I had to text after seeing Tim had. I'll be satisfied with front row for Lewis, and then a win for Yeovil at Bournemouth tomorrow!
Chris, Preston. via text

Come on Lewis, lets show them whos boss and set pole.
Gaz, Devon via text

0258: Two minutes away now - but just enough time for a couple of you to send your thoughts.

A certain Mr Stewart has just tipped Hamilton for pole, and I for one agree with him.
Jack, Northampton, via text

Good luck lewis and all british drivers
Elizabeth, via text

0240: I am glued to the computer hoping that Hamilton will set pole position. Good luck Lewis.
Tim, Yeovil, via text

Early shout from Tim. Nice to have you along for the ride, fella. Let's hope Lewis does not let you down.

0215: Morning all, to those of you who are awake and waiting patiently for the first competitive action of the new season.

In 45 minutes, qualifying begins and we should see the true pace of Ferrari and McLaren after the favourites produced low-key performances in final practice.

World champion Kimi Raikkonen ranked 14th and McLaren title rival Lewis Hamilton was 12th. BMW Sauber pair Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld were fastest, with Renault's two-time world champion Fernando Alonso third-fastest.

Ferrari and McLaren are expected to stage a private fight for pole position in Melbourne on Saturday.

Their cars have been the class of the field in practice around Albert Park - confirming the evidence of pre-season winter testing.

But behind them the midfield battle is expected to be intense, with most of the rest of the field covered by no more than a second.

For these drivers, any slip could prove extremely costly.