The start of the Australian Grand Prix Melbourne-2010
We have the result of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Did the Red Bulls dominate? Did Schumacher find his Mojo? Who did better – Jenson or Lewis?
We started to get gripes at the end of last year’s F1 season that our headlines on Grand Prix results gave the game away. Not an overwhelming number of emails – just a steady trickle. But we got loads after our Ferrari One-Two at Bahrain headline at the first F1 Grand Prix of the season, so we’re going to obfuscate the headlines and the sub-header this year, so all of you who’ve stuck the race on Sky+ don’t get it spoilt.
From Bahrain’s boring parade we had a lively and exciting race in Melbourne, which that had much to do with rain and some inspired decisions on tyre stops. The day – despite expectations of Red Bull dominance – belonged to Jenson Button who made an inspired call for slicks early in the race – long before anyone else – which allowed him to coast to the front when Vettel fell by the wayside with brake failure on lap 26. And from there Jenson was unassailable – cruising to his first victory for McLaren.
The race at Melbourne started frenetically with a coming together at the first corner which saw the Bahrain winner Alonso spin and clip Button and Schumacher and ending up just about at the back of the pack. Button and Hamilton capitalised on the chaos to make ground and Button’s early tyre change made it a race winner for McLaren. Sadly for McLaren they called Hamilton’s tyre change badly and he ended up sparring with Alonso for fourth place and suffering the indignity of Weebber ploughing in to him as he put a move on Alonso three laps from the end.
The day was all about Button – and vindicating F1 as an exciting spectacle after the poor start to the season at Bahrain – and suddenly Button looks to be in control at McLaren with Hamilton looking a bit like a little boy lost this weekend. Maybe Dad should come back.
Mercedes had nothing to get excited about with Schumacher stuck behind Alguersuari for an eternity before waking up with two laps to go and taking 10th. Team mate Rosberg took 5th. And through it all Kubica in the Renault kept his head, drove a mature race and brought his car home in second for a podium finish. Ferrari managed 3rd and 4th and Lotus were the best of the newcomers. Force India also managed to make a good showing with Liuzzi finishing in 7th.
Off to Malaysia in a week’s time.
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