The Australian, a two-time race winner who previously only had sprint poles, lapped in one minute 30.641 seconds and was joined on the front row for Sunday's start by George Russell after the Mercedes driver put in a storming final effort of 1:30.723.

McLaren's Lando Norris, the championship leader and winner of the season-opener in Australia, abandoned his final lap, while Piastri improved his time, and will start third with Red Bull's Max Verstappen fourth.

Ferrari filled the third row with Lewis Hamilton securing fifth, but 0.286 seconds off the pole pace after winning the earlier sprint race, and teammate Charles Leclerc sixth.

"The laps were a little bit scruffy but I'm just pumped to be on pole," said Piastri, who started on the front row in Australia but finished only ninth after spinning off.

--Reuters--