The Great Aussie Free For All. Australian GP 2012

The Australian GP. Always the scrap of the season. Teams fight for dominance, hoping to be this year's break away story. Some want to be the underdog, while others fluff their feathers, showing they will be the alpha-team.

Mercedes, swaggered into the paddock with a self assured confidence, normally reserved for winners. Ross Brawn proclaimed loud enough for the world to hear, "Michael Schumacher was never gone, he just didn't have the equipment." Ross didn't know how right he was to be, as Michael retired with a failing car. His understudy, Nico, unable to get his tyres to work over the race distance, finished a distant 12th. Ross no doubt laid awake Sunday night in his room over-looking the Yarra, thinking about what should have been.

Renault, err, I mean, Lotus, pushed a familiar face in front of the cameras. It was F1's lost son, Kimi Raikkonen, in charge of ushering in a new Lotus, searching for former glory. As cool as his approach to life, Kimi failed at the first hurdle, qualifying just enough to sit at the children's table while his executive assistant, Romain Grosjean, was left to do all the work. Unable to play with others, Grosjean parked his car on the first lap with less tyres than he started with. Kimi was forced to make up for his partners lack of effort and finished his race in 7th. Happy for the points, Lotus rewarded Kimi with the ice-cream of his choice. He chose a local favourite, a Rainbow paddle-pop.

Sauber surprised everyone by finishing two cars in the top ten. We are all still surprised something so ugly can go so fast!

Despite Ferrari producing a car slower than the fast Sauber, world champ, Alonso, dragged his red speed bump to an amazing 5th in front of the two black and white Saubers! Massa, proving that Hungary '09 is still in his head, couldn't be bothered finishing the GP after a tussle with Senna.

At the pointy end, Red Bull were far from their dominating 2011 form. Qualifying 5th and 6th, a fast starting Vettel made up ground and was gifted the places he needed to finish second. First when Schumacher parked his unreliable Merc and then, through good fortune and a safety car, Vettel passed an angry Hamilton. Webber's cliché poor start meant he had it all to do. Finally through good fortune, Mark found 4th at the checkered flag. With favours and good fortune in short supply these days, Red Bull have much work to do before Sepang next Sunday.

Jenson Button claimed top step honours for the 3rd time in Australia. Powering into the first corner past a dumb-founded Lewis Hamilton, Jenson never looked like giving up the front spot. Even after a Petrov inspired restart, Jenson remained calm in the knowledge he has a fast car and a hot girlfriend. Despite having the most sane looking car on the grid, Lewis couldn't find the speed he needed to reward McLaren with a 1-2 finish. Unhappy with 3rd, Lewis returned to his trailer and whinged to his mum about the other kids not sharing.

The talk of Melbourne this weekend was Perth born Daniel Ricciardo waving the flag for Toro Rosso. Despite qualifying 10th, Daniel found himself driving under the Williams of Bruno Senna and limping into last place. An inspiring drive put him back behind his team mate going into the final lap. With others tripping over each other, Daniel found a way through, making the race for the last few points the most exciting of the race. With 4 corners left, Ricciardo moved 3 places and walked away from his 1st Australian GP with a courageous two points. His team mate, Jean-Eric Vergne, finished just out of the points, meaning he was required to report to his trailer where Dr Helmut Marko administered the compulsory Red Bull 12 lashes of failure.

Finally, Williams scared everyone by revealing a fast car. Teams held their breath watching as Williams declared it was back but fortunately, Frank William's outfit tripped spectacularly at the last hurdle, making a mess of Maldonado's car all over the back of the track. Yellow flags slowed but didn't stop the cars as they pushed the final lap.

The roadshow is on to Sepang, Malaysia, for the next round. The cars will be sizing each other up on Friday.

Daniel Ricciardo On Australian TV

Lame interview. Clearly Daniel never spoke to an AFL player, just used their equipment while home for the holidays. Still, always good to see Daniel on TV, even if it's a football show.

The Man With Too Many Words Meets The Man With Not Enough

Lots of driver promo work ahead of the first race. This one is a little more fun than most. Kimi Raikkonen on Top Gear!



A few other drivers have been on Top Gear over the years. Some of my favourites.

Clarkson's pink jacket lining. Oh and a young Mark Webber.



World champ, Lewis somebody.



A Honda driver waiting for his first win. Nice guy, even nicer girlfriend. Love to see him win a championship one day.



That guy with the pointy finger.

Webber Needs An Australian Win

March 3rd, 2002. Mark Webber, as if cheered on by the home town crowd, out performed his Minardi F1 car and lined up 18th on the grid. The entire country tuned in to see an Aussie line up next to the likes of Michael Schumacher, Jacques Villenuve and David Coulthard. The first Aussie since David Brabham eight years before him, and the first to carry the hopes of a championship since Alan Jones, two decades earlier.

Over the next two hours, the world watched on as the gladiators of high speed crashed, broke, cheated and spun their way out of the running, clearing the way for Australia's hopes. The Aussie driver behind the wheel of an Aussie owned car. Pushing home a limp horse, Webber defended a late charging Toyota to grab 2 points in his first race. Australia cheered as if it was a win. Mark Webber had arrived!

Fast forward to 2005. Webber had suffered the fate of a driver unable to get a winning car. His Jaguar had convincingly floundered in the middle of the pack for two years but once again Webber had the hopes of a nation behind him. Mark had made the seemingly hopeful move to Williams, a team use to winning. The last race of 2004 was won by a Williams, the expectation of Mark winning this year was high. Having convincingly out-qualified his new team mate, Nick Heidfeld, Mark lined up third for the race along side Jacques Villenuve. Australia was on the edge of its seat!

The race started with what has now become Mark's trademark bad start. Swamped into the first corner, Webber fell back and adjusted to life following others. Despite an off passing slower cars, Mark had a relatively quiet race and equaled his Australian record of 5th place. The highest finish he was yet to achieve.

The early half of 2005 had Mark knocking on the door of points, usually managing one by the checkered flag. Monaco was different. Australia was once again watching closely as Mark slipped back behind his team mate after a Williams call brought Heidfeld into the pits a lap earlier than Mark, giving Nick the opportunity to pass his team mate. Webber was gifted third from a struggling Alonso but knew in his heart his first podium was meant to be second.

2006 tested Webber's relationship with Williams. His Williams FW28 retired more times than it finished, levelling the teams poor form on the Australian. Mark left the team looking for a fresh start and landed at Red Bull along-side accomplished driver David Coulthard in 2007. Despite showing some early pace, the only success came at The Nürburgring where Mark found his second podium.

By 2009, Australia was use to Mark trailing the leaders. Now teamed up with young Seb Vettel, Mark showed his usual form in Australia, finishing 12th and a lap down on the leaders, Brawn. The surprise came in China as a rain soaked track became the stage for the first Red Bull 1-2. Mark had achieved his best result of 2nd, four years after his first Monaco 3rd. Red Bull was on its way!

A lot more points came in 2009, with Mark finally grabbing that missing win in Germany, the site of his first ever Red Bull podium. Nothing could stop the Aussie winning, even a drive through penalty was unable to slow his assault. The win finished Webber's run of races without a win, a record which he comfortably holds at 130 races.

Webber has had the best run of his career with Red Bull. 7 wins, 2 third place finishes in the championship, and even a chance at the title in 2010. The one thing that has eluded him, a podium at Australia, has to be high on his list of wants. Despite all his recent success, that fifth for Minardi in 2002 is still his best Australian finish. With the clock on his career ticking away every race, and the best car he will ever get, 2012 has to be the year!

If not, there is always Daniel Ricciardo?!