Crikey. Jenson Button is on Pole for the Australian Grand Prix, in a 1-2 for the resurrected Honda team in what would be unbelievable only weeks ago is still barely believable now.

Tearing Richard Branson’s newly paid for hymen right off and magically playing swapsies Button had kept the back end of the grid warm for Hamilton who barely made it out of Q1.

The Williams did well, but not blisteringly so…

Q1

The cars are so close that it’s not until the clock says 0:00 that we can really be sure who is in and out. The top end of the grid was stupidly topsy turvey but, for this session at least the drivers going out weren’t all that much of a surprise; the Torro Rossos, Force India’s and Piquet already justifying the doubts over his contract renewal.

Hamilton almost looked as if he was going to make it, getting his car up to 4th, but a blink later and that time was only good enough for 15th.

Q2

Hamilton didn’t even bother getting back in the car, whether it was the drivetrain or his dignity that had broken he’s starting the race on one of his worst grid slots ever.

The BrawnGP team managed P1&2, Vettel managed to poke the Red Bull right up there without a funky diffuser. The other McLaren of Kovalinen would have ended up dead last if it wasn’t for… well, the McLaren of Hamilton.

One last surprise before the big Q3 was Alonso, screwing up his last lap and his chance of a good grid slot.

Q3

The BrawnGP team had managed to conserve enough soft tyres to go out with an extra set in hand and banked up a couple of quick laps.

But as the session drew on it seemed apparent that it was between the Brawns and the Red Bulls. the Ferrari’s are either carrying fuel or being outshone by the little ones.

Provisional Grid

1. Button
2. Barrichello
3. Vettel
4. Kubica
5. Rosberg
6. Glock
7. Massa
8. Trulli
9. Raikkonen
10. Webber
11. Heidfeld
12. Alonso
13. Nakajama
14. Kovalinen
15. Hamilton
16. Buemi
17. Piquet
18. Fisichella
19. Sutil
20. Bourdais