Sebastian Vettel has seen a number of false dawns since crossing to Ferrari but the German could see good times ahead for the 'scuderia' after putting his car on the front row of the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday.

Vettel's quickest lap was nearly three-tenths of a second slower than Mercedes pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton but the four-times world champion felt he had left a better time out on the track.

"I was not entirely happy with my lap," the German told reporters.

"I was pretty happy with the end, maybe not so much with the opening of the lap where we lost a bit too much.

"But I think Lewis did a very good lap so I don't think - I would have loved to - but I don't think pole was up for grabs.

"Tomorrow I think we can do something in the race. As I said the car feels good, we've improved it so the pace feels much better than yesterday when we had some practice."

Mercedes have swept the driver and constructors' championships for the last three years running, while Ferrari failed to win a race last season.

But a raft of technical changes to the cars, including fatter tyres and improved aerodynamics, are seen levelling the playing field and Ferrari showed impressive reliability and pace during winter testing.

Vettel, who crossed to the glamour team in 2015 after four F1 titles with Red Bull, has been at pains to downplay Ferrari's prospects and hopes of a heavyweight championship battle with three-times winner Hamilton.

But with Hamilton and retired champion Nico Rosberg hogging the front row throughout 2016, there would have been some satisfaction for Vettel to wedge his Ferrari between the Mercedes cars at Albert Park.

Rosberg's replacement Valtteri Bottas will start third in Sunday's race, sandwiched between Vettel and his Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen.

Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Winner Ferrari's German driver Sebastian Vettel (R) and runner-up Mercedes's British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) take part in a press conference after the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Vettel celebrates winning in Melbourne. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Vettel clinched the 43rd victory of his career. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Hamilton and Vettel embrace after the Grand Prix. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Vettel arrives in parc ferme after winning the race. EPA Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Vettel crosses the line to win the Australian Grand Prix. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Fernando Alonso's dogged drive to remain ahead of Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon was ended after suspected suspension failure Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Hamilton led Vettel until the pit stops when the Ferrari driver leapfrogged his Mercedes rival. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Marcus Ericsson and Kevin Magnussen collide at the third corner in Melbourne Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton led from the start as Sebastian Vettel fended off Valtteri Bottas Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Qualifying Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton speak during the post-qualifying press conference Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Qualifying Lewis Hamilton is given a lift down the pit lane in the safety car after clinching pole position Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Qualifying Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for the sixth time in Australia Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Qualifying Romain Grosjean locks up a tyre on his final qualifying lap Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Third Practice Sebastian Vettel set the fastest lap ever seen around Albert Park to top third practice Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Third Practice Marcus Ericsson flashes past the Albert Park Lake Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Third Practice Esteban Ocon gets to grips with the Force India car during third practice Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Marcus Ericsson beached his Sauber in the gravel trap during the afternoon session. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Jolyon Palmer jumps through a gap in the fence after crashing his Renault on the entry to the start/finish straight. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Palmer's Renault is recovered to the pit lane ahead of a busy night rebuilding it. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Sebastian Vettel appeared puzzled by the gap to the lead Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Daniel Ricciardo runs wide on the exit of turn one. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Romain Grosjean takes a trip over the gravel trap. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Lewis Hamilton was fastest in the first two practice sessions of the year in Melbourne Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday First Practice The Force India of Esteban Ocon runs over the kerb during first practice. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday First Practice Daniel Ricciardo flashes by on the back straight in his Red Bull. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday First Practice Hamilton was half-a-second faster than his nearest challenger in Vettel Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday First Practice Lewis Hamilton pears through his visor at the start of the new season. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday First Practice Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon stand by the new pink-livery Force India. Getty

"I think we have a good car," said Vettel. "I think we are working well as a team, things are improving.

"We had a mixed day yesterday but the confidence in the car was there from testing and I think we've showed it again today.

"It's been a big winter for us, a lot of change we've gone through as a team the last 12 months. And to the better, I think the team's getting stronger, pushing very hard. I think people are fired up and we are motivated for tomorrow."