Lando Norris took pole position for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after he edged out McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
Norris saw off Piastri's challenge by just 0.084 seconds as McLaren secured an impressive front-row lockout in Melbourne.
World champion Max Verstappen finished a distant third with Mercedes' George Russell fourth. RB's Yuki Tsunoda took a surprise fifth, one place ahead of Williams' Alex Albon.
It was a disappointing afternoon for Ferrari with Charles Leclerc only seventh, one place ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton who will line up from eighth position for his Ferrari debut. Hamilton was 0.877 sec adrift of Norris.
Following on from their constructors' championship triumph last season, and a strong pre-season test in Bahrain last month, McLaren had been considered by their rivals as the team to beat. And the British team delivered with an ominous showing.
Norris' first lap in the crucial Q3 session was deleted for exceeding track limits while Piastri was only fourth in the order after he ran wide at the final corner.
A scrappy start for the McLaren duo left Verstappen holding the advantage at the top of the pile before the final runs.
But Piastri bounced back first to take provisional top spot, to the delight of the home crowd, only for Norris to bump him down to second. Norris finished almost four tenths clear of Verstappen.
“Not a bad way to start the year,” said Norris over the radio. “Amazing work all winter, let's keep it up.”
Later, he added: “As much as we want to dominate, and have a result like we just had, it was not our expectation to have that gap to the others.
“We know we have a good car. Everyone has done an incredible job to improve in as many areas as possible. We are going in with one target tomorrow, which is to be at the top, and have two cars at the top.”
Rain is forecast for Sunday's race, and Norris added: “It will not be easy. We did some wet running here a couple of years ago and it tests you. I am excited, nervous at the same time, but we know we have a good car and we have to keep our heads down.”
Hamilton's move from Mercedes to Ferrari has been the major talking point ahead of the new campaign as the 40-year-old British driver targets a record eighth title.
Hamilton spun on the exit of Turn 11 in the concluding moments of Q2 to leave him facing the wrong way. He escaped the drama without damage and was able to make it back to his garage before returning for the final phase.
But Hamilton has not been able to match Leclerc's speed all weekend and finished more than two tenths behind the Monegasque with Ferrari failing to impress.
Kimi Antonelli's maiden qualifying session as an F1 driver ended at the first hurdle after he failed to progress into Q2.
The 18-year-old Italian looked on the edge throughout and his best effort was eclipsed by fellow rookie Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber to leave him 16th.
He will start two places clear of Red Bull's Liam Lawson, who ran off the track on multiple occasions on a scrappy afternoon for the New Zealander.
Ollie Bearman will start last following a poor weekend for the British teenager.
Bearman, 19, crashed of out of first practice, leaving him unable to take part in the day's second running. He then beached his Haas in the gravel on his first lap in practice on Saturday. Bearman attempted to qualify but complained his car was broken and did not set a time.
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ARSENAL IN 1977
Feb 05 Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland
Feb 12 Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal
Feb 15 Middlesbrough 3-0 Arsenal
Feb 19 Arsenal 2-3 West Ham
Feb 26 Middlesbrough 4-1 Arsenal (FA Cup)
Mar 01 Everton 2-1 Arsenal
Mar 05 Arsenal 1-4 ipswich
March 08 Arsenal 1-2 West Brom
Mar 12 QPR 2-1 Arsenal
Mar 23 Stoke 1-1 Arsenal
Apr 02 Arsenal 3-0 Leicester
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
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The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
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'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
