Hamilton on pole as he blitzes Rosberg but it's a nightmare for Button as hopeless McLaren qualify LAST for season opener

Lewis Hamilton on pole for Australian Grand Prix as he blitzes title rival Nico Rosberg... but it's a nightmare for Jenson Button as hopeless McLaren qualify last in Melbourne 

• Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday's Australian Grand Prix on pole
• The world champion was a mighty 0.6sec quicker than rival Nico Rosberg
• Felipe Massa is third on the grid with Sebastian Vettel 4th in his Ferrari 
• But McLaren endured a nightmare Down Under, with Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen propping up the grid on a bad day for the British team

Joy for pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton but ignominy for Jenson Button and history-making of the wrong sort for McLaren. Both their cars, Button in one, Kevin Magnussen in the other, will be on the back row of the grid for the Australian Grand Prix.

Their participation ended with the doom-laden radio transmission to Button, a three-time winner here at Albert Park: ‘We have leapfrogged Magnussen, but unfortunately we are one-tenth short of Ericsson (of Sauber) and out.’

In the McLaren garage, chairman Ron Dennis watched on, wearing headphones, his neck extended, his face impassive.

McLaren were six seconds off Mercedes, who took pole through a lightning quick Hamilton, virtually six-tenths – a.k.a. an age – ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg. Felipe Massa, of Williams, was third.

It has been estimated that McLaren could be 250 brake horsepower (the equivalent of the Honda Civic Type R) short of the Mercedes.

So much for McLaren's new partnership with Honda. So much for the rebuilding that was promised when Dennis sacked Martin Whitmarsh as team principal to take on the chief executive’s role himself.

Dennis has inched ever more involved in the team, having originally promised to detach himself and leave the day-to-day management to Eric Boullier, the sporting director. The formula is not working even at their annual outlay of a mighty £200million.

You have to wonder whether Fernando Alonso, who is missing this race after being concussed in a testing accident last month, will want to return for Malaysia a fortnight hence. A sick note from the doctor might suit him nicely. Until, let’s say, Monza.

By that race in September, Mercedes may nearly, or actually, have wrapped up the constructors’ title. Their dominance is so immense that Hamilton was 1.4sec ahead of Massa’s Williams.

Hamilton, securing his fourth pole on the track where he made his debut eight years ago, said: ‘It has been a great start to the weekend. It does not feel like a long time since the last race.

'It has been a huge effort by the guys back at the factory so I feel incredibly blessed. It is so much fun in qualifying and I am massively grateful for all the hard work of the team.'

Hamilton, who started on pole here in Melbourne in 2014, but retired with an engine problem, added: 'We had a difficult start to the season last year, so we a really hoping for a better start for both cars to succeed tomorrow. We are going to work as hard as we can, and it will be a good fight with Nico.'

Rosberg had to abort his first flying lap after running wide, but recovered to complete a Mercedes front-row lockout. He said: 'The story was Lewis was in impressive form and he did an awesome job. 

'For me, the speed was there but I did not get it together. I am realy thankfulf for the team and the car they have given me. P2, I will live with for now, but it is a long day tomorrow.' Of the dominant Mercedes pair, third-placed Massa said: 'They are in a different category'.

McLaren would not have been at the very back had Manor not sat qualifying out. The team will not race either. Their supposed rebirth from the ashes of Marussia is danger of turning into a bad joke.

Button, however, believes this year's McLaren is essentially good, saying: ‘I was always thinking long term when I re-signed. I really do think that in the end we can challenge Mercedes at the front. This a new package, not just in terms of the engine but the philosophy behind it, the aerodynamics and airflow.

‘I’d rather not be at the back of the grid, but I am not sitting here downbeat. It is a tough time now and there will be tough times for many weeks, but it will make us stronger.

‘We have not done a race distance yet. So if we finish the race tomorrow it may not sound much, but it will help a lot.’

Max Verstappen, the youngest qualifier in Formula One history at 17 years and 165 days, qualified 12th. He had ‘a big moment’ squirming wide at turn five and that left him four places behind Toro Rosso team-mate Carlos Sainz Jnr.

Red Bull were disappointingly slow, with Daniil Kvyat only 13th and Daniel Ricciardo seventh.

Serena Williams beats Monica Niculescu on return to Indian Wells after ending boycott

Serena Williams overcame Monica Niculescu to win in straight sets

The World No 1 has not played at Indian Wells since 2001

She was jeered by fans and allegedly subjected to racist abuse that year 

But American was given standing ovation as she made emotional return

Serena Williams emerged triumphant on an emotional return to Indian Wells on Friday, beating Monica Niculescu in straight sets at the BNP Paribas Open.

The world No 1 has not played at the tournament in the Californian desert, one of the biggest on the WTA Tour, since winning the title as a 19-year-old in 2001.

She was afforded a standing ovation as she walked out onto centre court, and the occasion seemed to affect her in the early stages as she found herself trailing 2-0.

But the 33-year-old American soon got into her rhythm and ground out a gutsy 7-5, 7-5 triumph in two hours four minutes.

Williams had thought about returning last year only to change her mind. She was jeered during her final victory over Kim Clijsters 14 years ago by a crowd unhappy that Venus Williams had pulled out of a scheduled semi-final against her sister the previous day at the last minute.

Critics believed matches between the siblings were fixed and Venus and the women's father and coach Richard claimed they were subjected to racist taunts in the stands.

Elsewhere in the women's second round on Friday, Romania's Simona Halep battled from a set down to defeat Russia's Daria Gavrilova - and dedicated the victory to her cousin, following his recent death.

'It's really tough to speak about this situation,' she said after her 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 win. 'It's a painful situation for everyone, for me and for my family.

'I just wanted to play this tournament because he loved tennis. He played tennis for many years. So I decided to stay here, because it was a little bit easier to pass this situation.

'I just want to dedicate this match to him, because he loved tennis and he was very talented.'

Wright-Phillips makes first Premier League start for 770 days as QPR bid for three points to take Ramsey's men out of drop zone

Crystal Palace host relegation-threatened QPR at Selhurst Park in the day's early kick-off. The Eagles find themselves eight points clear of the drop zone, while Chris Ramsey's men are 18th with just 22 points from 28 games. Alan Pardew will be without Mile Jedinak and Jordon Mutch, while Hoops midfielder Joey Barton completes a three-match ban.

QPR boss Ramsey speaks ahead of kick-off

Speaking to BT Sport ahead of kick-off, Chris Ramsey said: 'The players have really applied themselves in the last two games and if we can replicate that then we stand a good chance of getting a result.

'I've known him (Adel Taarabt) a long time and he's a very good player.

'We're going to have be really on our game today. It's a must-win game today.'

Palace boss Pardew speaks ahead of kick-off

Speaking to BT Sport, Pardew said: '(I've got a)Good set of players. They'd lost their way a little bit but good players get results.

'I'm a bit surprised (Bobby) Zamora isn't playing today. We need to be on guard and be wary of any little surprises.

'The game could be decided by the benches. There are options for both managers to change it.'

The woes have increased for Queens Park Rangers, with the club fearing they will lose star striker Charlie Austin in the summer and their accounts showing they could still face a Financial Fair Play fine of nearly £58million.

Manager Chris Ramsey admitted that Austin, whose contract runs out at the end of next season, could leave in the summer, but is adamant they will not let him go for a paltry fee.

To make matters worse, the club’s financial accounts for the 2013-14 season when they were in the Championship, filed at Companies House on Friday, show that their ‘real’ losses last season were almost £70m.

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has had his players training at Selhurst Park in the hope of exploiting a set-piece advantage over Queens Park Rangers in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off.

Palace’s home form this season is the second worst in the Barclays Premier League, with bottom-side Leicester City the only club worse than them on home turf.

The Selhurst Park pitch has been re-laid twice this season, and with Pardew admitting the surface ‘isn't perfect’, he has called his players into the stadium that they face QPR in on Saturday to practice their dead-ball routines.

Sterling 'not going anywhere in a hurry' despite stalling on new Liverpool deal, insists Rodgers as Bayern and Madrid circle young star

Liverpool manager is 'relaxed' over Raheem Sterling's contract situation

England winger has reportedly been offered £100,000-a-week to stay

Brendan Rodgers insists that club remains the youngster's 'best option'

Liverpool face Swansea City in their Premier League clash on Monday

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are currently monitoring events at Anfield

STERLING SERVICE 

Premier League 2014-15

Appearances                       25

Goals                                    6

Assists                                  8

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists he is 'relaxed' about Raheem Sterling's contract situation despite claims that the latest discussions have failed to find a solution to a long-running impasse. The club have tabled what a couple of weeks ago Rodgers described as an 'incredible' offer - reported to be in the region of £100,000 a week. A few weeks before that the Reds boss had suggested an agreement was imminent but latest reports suggest there has been no movement in negotiations.

Sterling has been locked in talks over a contract extension for several months but the 20-year-old has told club officials he wants to focus on the remainder of Liverpool’s Premier League season and on winning the FA Cup. 

Given Sterling’s status as one of Europe’s top emerging talents, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are watching on closely. Likewise, Premier League clubs will also enter the race if it becomes clear Sterling is available.

Nonetheless, Rodgers claims he is not overly concerned by the current situation.

'There is nothing new to report on it. I am quite relaxed about Raheem's situation,' he said.

'He is not going anywhere in a hurry - he has still got this season and another couple of years to go on his contract.

'I think it is quite obvious when you look at Raheem's situation anyone with Raheem's best interests would see Liverpool as the best option for his career.

'He turned 20 in December and he has made 114 appearances, which is a remarkable amount at a club of this size to be given that opportunity.

'He has made it clear himself that he loves being here and I think he was quoted as saying this is the best place for any young player to develop, so that makes me quite relaxed.

'I am sure the club and his representatives will find the solution for that.'

Rodgers has previously suggested the club would not be held to ransom by Sterling's agent and said the contract offer they had made was more than fair for a player of the England international's age and potential.

Asked why he thought a deal had not been agreed yet, the manager said: 'I'm not sure. It is not in my area really.

'I speak to Raheem about his football and concentrate on his football and see what goes from there.'

Sterling and Jordan Henderson, who has been captaining the side in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard, are the two players whose contracts appear to be taking most of the headlines. 

However, with Liverpool closing in on a top-four place and having one eye on a possible FA Cup final, it is imperative they do not allow off-field issues to distract them. 

Rodgers is confident neither player will drop their standards as he believes they are both focused on the job in hand.

'These are two players who want to ensure they are here for the future,' he added.

'The model of this club is to develop the talent and create world-class players and then, of course, it is important we keep those - especially when they are here already - and that is something we are working hard to do.

'The players are working well, they are concentrated, and that side of it they have to leave to their representatives and the club so we'll just focus on the football.

'It is never easy but there are players, with all due respect, in League Two and League One who are working on six-month or one-year contracts.

'It is a lot more insecure at that level than it is at this level so I am sure they will cope fine knowing they have two or two-and-a-half years left on their deals.'

Liverpool will have to watch the race for the top four develop without them this weekend as they do not play until Monday when they travel to Swansea.

The squad has been boosted by the return of Gerrard from a hamstring problem which has sidelined him for seven matches while Martin Skrtel, after his head injury last weekend against Blackburn in the FA Cup, and midfielder Joe Allen are both fit. Defender Jon Flanagan has also returned to training after a long-term knee problem.