( CNN ) -- There will be a Red Bull on the front row of the grid for Sunday 's season-opening Australian Grand Prix -- but it 's not four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel . The German will be back in 12th place after a dramatic qualifying session on Saturday in which wet weather added to the uncertainty created by the radical design changes for this year 's cars . Vettel failed to make it into Q3 for the first time since 2012 as he suffered with engine software problems , but his new teammate Daniel Ricciardo shrugged off the champion team 's preseason struggles by being second fastest behind Lewis Hamilton . Hamilton is one of the early favorites for the title , and his Mercedes team lived up to its billing as Nico Rosberg qualified third ahead of McLaren rookie Kevin Magnussen and Ferrari 's two-time world champion Fernando Alonso . `` Qualifying was a lot harder for everyone with the tricky conditions and it was a real challenge out there , '' said Hamilton , who won the 32nd pole of his career to move up to sixth on the all-time list and match the British record held by Nigel Mansell . `` We were on the edge with the tires and it was difficult to know which way to go at times . It 's the first time I 've driven the car on the limit in the wet , but it felt great and I 'm so happy with the job the team has done , '' added the 2008 world champion , who was also fastest in Friday 's practice sessions . Vettel , seeking a record-equaling fifth successive title , took some positives from Red Bull 's performance . `` I think we have made a big step forward with the car , but of course I 'm not happy that we did n't make it to Q3 , '' he said . `` I think the car is quick , but we struggled this afternoon with driveability which , in these conditions , made it even worse . The car seems good and Daniel did a very good job to be on the front row , so congratulations to him . '' The Australian has made the step up from Red Bull 's feeder team Toro Rosso to replace veteran compatriot Mark Webber . `` It was definitely a really nice first qualifying session with the team , '' said Ricciardo , who had moved ahead of Rosberg to top the timesheets before Hamilton snatched back the lead with a late lap . `` I 'm happy for us to have a front row start -- it was n't looking like this a few weeks ago , so I 'm pretty pleased right now . '' Magnussen outshined veteran teammate Jenson Button after the 2009 world champion failed to make it to Q3 , though he was promoted to 10th after Williams rookie Valtteri Bottas was given a five-place penalty for changing his gearbox . Alonso , the distant runner-up in last year 's championship , had the edge on his new Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen , who won the 2013 race ahead of the Spaniard with Lotus but will start 11th this time . Raikkonen spun off and damaged his front wing , but by that stage had no chance of making the final session . Toro Rosso impressed as French driver Jean-Eric Vergne qualified sixth and Russian 19-year-old Daniil Kvyat was eighth on his debut . Force India 's new signing Nico Hulkenberg confirmed his reputation as a canny wet-weather driver as the German qualified seventh , but Mexican teammate Sergio Perez was back in 16th . Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa will start ninth in his first outing for Williams , while Bottas was relegated to 15th . It was a nightmare day at the back of the field for Lotus , who have lost not only Raikkonen but also team boss Eric Boullier to McLaren . Romain Grosjean , who was seventh overall last year , will start 21st on the grid ahead of teammate Pastor Maldonado -- who could n't even set a time after coming into Q1 late due to a power unit problem .
Lewis Hamilton will be on pole for the first race of the new Formula One season in Melbourne . The British driver is set to start from pole position at a track where he has won four times this season. Ricciardo impresses home fans as he beats Mercedes ' Nico Rosberg to front row . Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will start 12th after engine software issues .