Results of the 2007 Australian F1 Grand Prix.
As the new F1 season got underway in Melbourne, pre–race bookies wouldn't have given high odds on either Raikkonen nor Alonso standing on the podium, but those who bet on rookie Lewis Hamilton standing beside them will have landed a windfall. Raikkonen may have run away with the race victory but it was the new 22-year old British driver who stole the show and nearly upstaged his world champion teammate.
Ferrari made it very clear that they intend to gain the ascendency again in 2007, as Kimi Raikkonen - in his first race driving in Schumacher's old seat - started from pole and lead for most the race, winnning with a comfortable 7 second margin ahead of Fernando Alonso. But the Spaniard, now racing for McLaren, had to spend most the race trailing the team's other new driver - one with no previous F1 racing experience.
Nick Heidfeld gave his BMW–Sauber team a great start to the season, finishing fourth, and even stole second from Alonso at the first corner. Renault, last years' Constructors' Champions, had to settle for fifth but it could have been a lot worse if Giarncarlo Fisichella had not made gains in the latter part of the race. However, it was Felipe Massa who was the other star of the Melbourne show, fighting his way up from the back of the grid to sixth with his storming Ferrari.
Williams will have been grateful to see Nico Rosberg finish seventh, ahead of Ralph Schumacher in a Toyota, both of whom had uneventful races. The other Toyota and Renault followed. Meanwhile, Britain's other hopeful, Jenson Button had a race to forget as his, and Ruben's Barrichello's, Hondas were simply off the pace in their new green and blue colours, finishing 15th and 11th respectively.
Other notable drives came from BMW–Sauber's promising new driver Roert Kubica, who was sixth at once stage before retiring. Takuma Sato showed that his Super Aguri is much improved, finishing 12th, while local Aussie boy Mark Webber didn't shine at home, finishing 13th. His teammate, David Coulthard, crashed out spectacularly as his Red Bull ramped over Alexander Wurz following an ill-timed inside corner overtaking maneouvre. They were among five retirees in total.
But back to Hamilton. He became F1's first ever black driver to stand on the podium, and for a brief period even lead the race as the first round of pitstops gifted him the lead from a runaway Raikkonen. The new ruling, forcing teams to use each set of hard and soft compound tyres, meant tactical racing provided some deceptive race positions during the course of the 68 lap race. When Hamilton emerged from his second pitstop, Alonso had stolen a march on him to gain a vital second in a season which promises a great rivalry between him and the Finn. But we're sure to see a lot more of some exciting new talent this season.
Result of 2007 Australian Grand Prix
- Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari one hour 25 minutes 28.770seconds
- Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren–Mercedes 7.2 seconds behind
- Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren–Mercedes 18.5 seconds
- Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 38.7 seconds
- Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault one minute 6.4 seconds
- Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 1:06.8
- Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams–Toyota one lap behind
- Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota one lap
- Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota one lap
- Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault one lap
- Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda one lap
- Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda one lap
- Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull–Renault one lap
- Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso–Ferrari one lap
- Jenson Button (GB) Honda one lap
- Anthony Davidson (GB) Super Aguri–Honda two laps
- Adrian Sutil (Ger) Spyker–Ferrari at 2 laps
R Alexander Wurz (Aut) Williams–Toyota 48 laps completed
R David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull–Renault 48 laps
R Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 36 laps
R Scott Speed (USA) Toro Rosso–Ferrari 28 laps
R Christijan Albers (Ned) Spyker–Ferrari 10 laps