This year's race was probably the most dramatic one in recent years. Räikkönen, thanks to a problem during qualification - a fuel pump - starts from the 16th place. Several drivers retire as soon as the first lap and the Safety Car is deployed, F.Massa gets his nose cone knocked off. In the lap 4 it is M.Webber, S.Vettel, J.Button and Fisichella to retire. Massa, because of his second visit to the pits, drops to the 16th place. Trulli has to retire in the lap 20 from a very nice 5th position. The air temperature is 25°C. After 25 laps Coulthard has to finish after an incident with Massa (cutting a corner, coming over Massa's front wing, getting of the circuit, the car is wrecked). Safety Car is out again, obviously it is Coulthard's mistake. Lap 27 - unfortunately for Ferrari, having been on the track for some time, Kimi loses control shortly after the restart of the race, ending up in the gravel, his tires are extremely worn, one of the front ones not showing any signs of the white stripe. In the lap 31 Massa retires with an engine trouble, but the drama is not over yet, a promising Piquet with Renault also finishes. Lap 32 - T.Sato ends. Lap 42 - another Räikkönen's serious mistake, spinning having touched the grass with one rear wheel, while trying to get in front of T.Glock from the 11th place.
Starting grid of Australian GP:
| L.Hamilton |
R.Kubica |
| H.Kovalainen |
F.Massa |
| N.Heidfeld |
J.Trulli |
| N.Rosberg |
D.Coulhartd |
| S.Vettel |
R.Barrichello |
| F.Alonso |
J.Button |
| K.Nakajima |
M.Webber |
| K. Räikkönen |
G.Fisichella |
| S.Bourdais |
A.Sutil |
| T.Glock |
T.Sato |
| N.Piquet |
A.Davidson |
In that time Hamilton takes his pit stop staying in the lead all the time. Right afterwards T.Glock kisses the wall and crashes his car at high speed. Safety Car is out once again. R.Barrichello, having been given a wrong signal from the lollipop man, sets off too soon, taking the refuelling hose with him, knocking over one of the mechanics. He leaves the pit lane against the red light and is stop-and-goed consequently. Lap 47 - the Safety Car is in, the race restarts, 10 laps to the finish R.Kubica retires,4 laps before the end Kimi stops being 7th when his Ferrari goes idle. Burdais retires one lap later - his engine gives in. Crossing the finish line Hamilton wins his first 10 points, followed by N.Heidfeld and N.Rosberg. It is a bad day for Ferrari, although only 6 drivers finishe the race. Nevertheless, the others are classified too, therefore Kimi gets his one point as well.
Final classification:
| 1. |
L.Hamilton |
10 |
| 2. |
N.Heidfled |
8 |
| 3. |
N.Rosberg |
6 |
| 4. |
F.Alonso |
5 |
| 5. |
H.Kovalainen |
4 |
| 6. |
K.Nakajima |
3 |
| 7. |
S.Bourdais |
2 |
| 8. |
K. Räikkönen |
1 |
Start |
|
L. Hamilton |
|
L. Hamilton, N. Rosberg |
|
Ron Dennis |
|
Vítìzové |
|
Babes |
|
|
