Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has secured pole position for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix but controversy materialised in Melbourne as qualifying ended with no drivers on the track.

The new format was supposed to lead to a more action-packed session, but the chequered flag was waved with Hamilton already in the pits having seen off the challenge of teammate Nico Rosberg.

Ferrari duo Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen are third and fourth respectively, while Max Verstappen will start in fifth after an impressive showing in the Toro Rosso.

Williams driver Felipe Massa is in sixth spot, while Jenson Button - who will be hoping for an improved season in 2016 - was 13th in the McLaren.

Great Britain's Jolyon Palmer - who is making his Formula 1 debut for Renault - was one place behind in 14th.

Results in full:

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
3. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
5. Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso)
6. Felipe Massa (Williams)
7. Carlos Sainz Jr (Toro Rosso)
8. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
9. Sergio Perez (Force India)
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India)
11. Valtteri Bottas (Williams)
12. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
13. Jenson Button (McLaren)
14. Jolyon Palmer (Renault)
15. Kevin Magnussen (Renault)
16. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)
17. Felipe Nasr (Sauber)
18. Daniil Kvyat Red Bull)
19. Romain Grosjean (Haas)
20. Esteban Gutierrez (Haas)
21. Rio Haryanto (Manor)
22. Pascal Wehrlein (Manor)