Mercedes duo surprised at Formula One qualifying feats

Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are shocked.

They didn't expect to be starting Sunday's Australian Formula One Grand Prix from second and third on the grid.

And they certainly didn't expect to be closing the gap on Red Bull's pole-sitting pacesetter Max Verstappen.

"It is a surprise, no doubt about it," Russell said.

Russell was just 0.236 seconds behind Verstappen in Saturday's qualifying at Albert Park.

And Hamilton was 0.372 seconds behind Red Bull's reigning world champ.

But both Mercedes men doubt they can catch Verstappen on Sunday.

"We have got to go for it, haven't we, we have got to go for the win," Russell said.

"Max is going to be extremely fast, there's no hiding that.

"It's difficult to overtake around this circuit so the start, lap one, is going to be vital.

"But the Red Bull has extraordinary top speed so it's going to be very difficult to fight with Max."

Hamilton concurred.

"Everything came together today," the seven-time world champion said.

"We hope that tomorrow that we can somehow hold on.

"He (Verstappen) might pull away into the distance like he has done in the past but we will give it our best shot."

Verstappen, who won the season-opening grand prix and finished second behind teammate Sergio Perez in the next race, also admitted astonishment at the qualifying feats of the Mercedes pair.

"I am a little bit surprised - maybe they are also a little bit surprised," he said.

"But it's a good thing.

"It's all about having the tyres in the right window and I guess they did a good job with that as well."