WILLIAMS head into tomorrow's qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix with a clearer picture after two positive practice sessions in Melbourne.

Inclement weather during Formula 1 pre-season testing led to the majority of teams heading to this weekend’s first race with a sense of the unknown.

Despite being outside of the top ten in today’s practice sessions, the Grove-based Williams team are feeling more upbeat.

Lance Stroll, who set the 12th and 14th fastest times, said: “We are in a decent position.

“We don’t know where the other cars are on fuel and everything, and we don’t know what engine mode people are running, so that is a question mark.

“It seems like the car is a bit better here than in testing.”

Debutant Sergey Sirotkin was 15th and 18th.

He added: “Both sessions were quite good

“Overall, everything feels very different to Barcelona.

“It’s still a bit early to say, but I think we look OK.”

The Enstone-based Renault team admit there is still work to do ahead of what is expected to be a rain-hit qualifying session.

Nico Hülkenberg, who was 13th in both sessions, said: “There’s a decent amount of pace to come when we get the car working as I want it.

“It’s just general improvement in pretty much every area.”

Carlos Sainz finished ninth and 11th, adding: “Conditions were great on track.

“It was an ideal day for Melbourne, but I think we might have more of a challenge in qualifying.”

Banbury-based Haas impressed, with Romain Grosjean coming seventh and sixth, and Kevin Magnussen 17th and ninth.

The latter said: “It’s going to be a good season.

“The first two for the team have been quite successful.

“It’s going to be difficult to improve them but, of course, that is our aim.”