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Lewis Hamilton began his title defence in emphatic style by taking a wonderful pole position for the Australian Grand Prix.

But another Briton, newcomer Lando Norris, also lit up Melbourne just as the five-time world champion did on his own debut here 12 years ago.

Norris produced the biggest moment of his life in Albert Park, taking his substandard McLaren into the realms of the unexpected. He qualified eighth. His team-mate Carlos Sainz, with 81 race starts to his name, provided context by coming 18th of the 20 runners.

Lewis Hamilton took pole position for Mercedes for the opening race of the season

Hamilton pipped team-mate Valtteri Bottas (left) to pole - with Sebastian Vettel a distant third

Hamilton has now secured a joint record eighth pole position at Albert Park 

Norris, 19, was seemingly nerveless at the crunch moments in Q1 and Q2, pulling out laps that mark him out as a driver of immense promise.

Nobody since Hamilton on the first corner of this track in 2007 has done more in brief glimpses of brilliance to raise the hopes of British motor racing fans. Norris’ career may yet fizzle out – we pray it won’t and have to no reason to think it will – but his display under the Melbourne sun will remain a princely entry to cherish.

Ferrari came to Australia buoyed by a perceived advantage through pre-season testing but Hamilton’s Mercedes team put the wind up their rivals from the first practice session on Friday.

Lando Norris made a highly promising start to his F1 career by claiming eighth on the grid

The British driver (above) outqualified his more experienced team-mate Carlos Sainz

Hamilton, was fastest throughout the weekend, had to marshal a near-perfect last lap with team-mate Valtteri Bottas having a set a very brisk time to beat.

Hamilton managed it by just over a tenth of a second – a victory of nerve and skill. His pole was his eighth here and sixth in succession.

Bottas was second quickest, securing a Mercedes front-row lockout.

Sebastian Vettel, who detoured off track on to the gravel in Q2, was third with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fourth.

Norris’ fellow British rookie, George Russell also had a fine day beating his Williams team-mate Robert Kubica by more than a second a half, but the car is very slow and he was 19th.

Sebastian Vettel was well over seven tenths down of the Mercedes in the Ferrari

Daniel Ricciardo had plenty of fans inside Albert Park for his home race

The Renault driver (above) was out qualified by team-mate Nico Hulkenberg 

‘I’m proud of myself to be honest,’ said Russell. ‘We all know where the car is at and we need to push forward – my only comparison is Robert.

‘I can leave here with my head held high. We’re not doing anything silly. We’re just gathering data because we’re still so far behind.’

Kubica, back in the sport after eight years out after severing part of his arm in a rally accident, hit a wall for the second time of the day, punctured himself and finished bottom of the heap.

On a topsy-turvy afternoon, Pierre Gasly flunked out in Q1 – the first time Red Bull have exited at that stage since Monaco last year when Verstappen crashed.

Neither Renault made it into Q3, with Nico Hulkenberg 11th and Daniel Ricciardo 12th. A poor start for them.

McLaren were fined £4,300 for the unsafe of Norris, releasing him into Kubica’s path.

Red Bull were left stunned after Pierre Gasly was eliminated in the first qualifying session

The Frenchman will start Sunday's race 17th on the grid in his first race for Red Bull

Robert Kubica's return to F1 saw him pick up a puncture as he qualified last for Williams

Melbourne's Albert Park street circuit will host the first race of the 2019 Formula One season