Downforce32

Mixed feelings for BMW

The BMW Sauber F1 Team started the 2007 season off in Melbourne with fourth place for Nick Heidfeld. However, a gearbox problem robbed the team of seeing both drivers in the points, as Robert Kubica retired on lap 36 while lying in fourth place.

Heidfeld had a very good start, which was an even better one than Kimi and managed to pass Fernando, of course he hoped to stay in front of him, but realistically he must have known the McLarens were quicker than him. Thinking about how happy they are, you should not forget where they came from as BMW started last season eighth in the constructors' championship. There pace was really good and fourth is an awesome start to the season. I feel sorry for the kubica's retirement, he was very strong. Heidfeld's tire strategy to take the softer ones first was riskier. After the first stop there was the danger of getting stuck in traffic, and this is what happened, but he took the risk anyway.

Kubica's pace was good but unfortunately he had a gearbox problem. He was stuck in fifth gear and that was the end of his race. The only good thing is that they now know what the problem is and they can resolve it. In the race Kubica was much heavier than Nick and was able to match his speed. His strategy was to attack towards the end of the race. His last stint was going to be very short, so he would have had an even better performance then, but unfortunately he didn't get that far.

Nick drove a good race and his fourth has earned BMW five points in the season curtain raiser. He was on soft tires. In hindsight, they could have done a longer first stint. Kubica was strong and showing the same pace as Nick when his gearbox stuck in fifth on lap 36. Now they have to focus on getting their reliability sorted out. The most important lesson today is that they have been able to match their testing performance. They have clearly been the third fastest team, and that is a good baseline for the next races.

Coulthard Wurz agree blame

David Coulthard was first to hold his hands up to a daring overtaking attempt on Alex Wurz, which resulted in the Red Bull jumping over the nose of the Williams, and both drivers ended up retiring.

"I was coming in too fast for the corner, so I don't think Alex can take any blame for that," Coulthard said. "He was slow on the brakes all race so I thought I had an opportunity but it turned out it wasn't an opportunity. That's racing. I started nineteenth so I knew what I was expecting and you have to fight to make some progress."

Wurz meanwhile agreed with Coulthard. "I think it was a bit optimistic to try that because I saw him in the mirror he was so far back," the Austrian said on his race debut for Williams. "It's a shame because I wanted to bring the car home for my team but that's life."

Kimster rockets to Melbourne victory

Kimi - the Kimster - Raikkonen rockets to a dominant victory in the Australian Grand Prix, his debut for Ferrari. The Finn took his tenth career win ahead of McLaren's reigning champion Fernando Alonso and F1 debutant Lewis Hamilton.

Kimi Raikkonen made a perfect start from pole to lead the field into the first corner but behind him the BMWs both got strong starts. Heidfeld passed Alonso into the first turn and Kubica thought he had passed Hamilton until the rookie muscled back past the Pole and Alonso around the outside of turn one.

The order then stabilised and Raikkonen had things under control leading Heidfeld, Hamilton, Alonso, Kubica, Fisichella and Webber. At the other end of the grid Massa had started from the back following his problem in qualifying and a subsequent engine change penalty but it was not as plain sailing as the Brazilian would have hoped - getting held up behind the two Hondas.

Heidfeld was the first front-runner to pit on lap 15 and rejoined the race in seventh. Meanwhile race leader Kimi Raikkonen dived into the pits for his first stop at the end of lap 18 having built up a 15-second lead and Lewis Hamilton inherited the Grand Prix lead for the first time in his maiden Grand Prix.

The McLarens were the last of the front-runners to pit with Alonso refuelling first on lap 22 and Hamilton one lap later, rejoining the race just ahead of his double world champion team mate. Raikkonen meanwhile had regained his original lead and looked peerless out front.

Felipe Massa had climbed up to seventh by the time he made his single scheduled pit stop at exactly half race distance - lap 29.

The middle part of the race brought more of the same as Raikkonen maintained a 17-second lead over Hamilton and Alonso. Kubica got ahead of Heidfeld and had the German under control until his BMW suddenly slowed on lap 37. Meanwhile race-leader Kimi Raikkonen made team mate Massa's weekend even worse by putting a lap on the Brazilian.

Heikki Kovalainen provided some entertainment on lap 40 when he lost control under braking for turn one and spun through 360-degrees in the gravel and rejoined having lost eight place for Felipe Massa.

Meanwhile at the front Kimi Raikkonen seemed to be playing with his pace - smashing his fastest laps at will, and then calming his pace, presumably sending a message to McLaren that he had the race well within his car's pace, making his second pit stop on lap 42.

A flurry of excitement followed as Hamilton got stuck behind Takuma Sato and had to crawl into the pits for his second stop behind the Super Aguri on lap 43. Alonso got two extra laps on his team mate and put the hammer down, setting personal bests all around the lap until he pitted on lap 44. The experience and cool head of Alonso paid off as he rejoined the race comfortably ahead of Hamilton and in second place behind Raikkonen.

Following the second round of pit stops Raikkonen resumed his comfortable lead ahead of Alonso, Hamilton, Heidfeld, Fisichella and Massa. As the leaders cruised to the finish, David Coulthard provided some entertainment with a daring stab down the inside of Alex Wurz for thirteenth, sliding over the nose of the Williams and ending his and the Austrian's races.

Raikkonen cruised to his tenth career Grand Prix victory and his first with Ferrari on his debut as Michael Schumacher's replacement. Fernando Alonso brought his McLaren home in second ahead of a faultless drive from Lewis Hamilton to finish third on his F1 debut.

Nick Heidfeld ended up with fourth place for BMW ahead of Fisichella and Massa in sixth, after the Brazilian started from the back of the grid. Nico Rosberg showed a mature head at the start of his second F1 season to claim two well-needed points for the Williams team while Ralf Schumacher took the final point for Toyota in eighth.

Heidfeld needs a fan base

Nick Heidfeld is hoping to win over plenty more fans this season now that fellow German Michael Schumacher has retired and Heidfeld finds himself at the wheel of what looks like a very competitive BMW Sauber.

While he says he'd like to have some more fans, the traditionally quiet driver denies he's preoccupied with becoming Germany's new F1 hero.

"My goal is to leave everyone behind me, not only the German drivers," Heidfeld said. "I'm hoping to win some new fans. It's always great to be supported and be able to show your fans a good race."

"We're on a good footing," he added. "Currently we're where we want to be."

What of Barrichello...?

Rubens Barrichello heads into his second season with the Honda team determined to emphasise the fact that he feels he has fully settled into the team now, where as he puts his disasterous start to last season down to the fact he hadn't.

"The Australian Grand Prix is always one of my favorite races on the calendar and I enjoy spending time in Melbourne where there is a great atmosphere over the race weekend," Barrichello said. "I feel totally at home with the Honda team this year so I really expect a better season and I am so motivated to start racing again. I'm also looking forward to being back on Bridgestone tires for this season, which should be a good thing for me as I have so much experience with Bridgestone."

"At the Honda team, we have made some significant progress through pre-season testing since the launch of the RA107 but there is still work to do," he added. "I have no doubt that with the resources of Honda, we can continue to improve the car throughout the season and we have a lot to look forward to."

BMW confident

Following intensive track testing at Valencia, Barcelona, Jerez and Bahrain, the BMW Sauber F1.07 is now set for its first race of the year. The BMW Sauber F1 Team exceeded expectations in its debut season to finish fifth in the constructors' world championship in 2006.

The team's aim for 2007 is to record more podium finishes on merit and further reduce the distance to the top of the constructors' standings. Last year, the gap between fifth place and fourth alone was 50 points.

However motorsport director Mario Theissen is hopeful the team can get off to a good start again and put in a strong points-scoring performance in the opening round of the season.

"Last year we put in a very good performance in Albert Park, and it would be nice if we had something to celebrate once again on Sunday evening," said Theissen. "As ever, it is difficult to make predictions. Our rivals have been generous with praise at times, but we also had a few problems in testing. As always, it is a race against time to get the car ready for the first race of the season."

"We are pleased to see that Melbourne is once again the first race on the calendar in 2007," he added. "The race this year will take place two weeks earlier than in 2006, i.e. in late summer rather than autumn. The city will be hungrier for the grand prix again, as this time round it has not just played host to a Commonwealth Games."

Ferrari in good shape

Michael Schumacher was at Maranello last week helping Ferrari finalise its preparations for its first season without him at the wheel. The seven-time champion expects his former team to be strong in the first round of the new season.

"I have the feeling that we are very well prepared for the first race and that we should do well," Schumacher said. "I cannot wait for the championship to begin as I think it will be very close and exciting. Now all that I can do is cross my fingers and wish Ferrari the best of luck."

Ecclestone planning points change

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone wants to make changes to the sport's points-scoring system for 2008.

The current format awards 10 points for a win, eight for second, down to one for eighth, but Ecclestone wants to give more points to the race winner.

"With second place getting eight points it is not right that the winner takes only 10," said Ecclestone, who introduced the current system in 2003.

"For 2008 I will propose a change. The guy who wins more should be champion."

Before Ecclestone's overhaul in 2003, the winning driver was awarded 10 points with second given six, and only the top six drivers getting amongst the scoring.

The F1 chief was prompted to close the gap and spread the points out after Michael Schumacher won the 2002 drivers championship by 67 points from Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello, prompting calls to make the competition fairer.

Now Ecclestone wants to reverse that decision in order to encourage drivers to fight for first place rather than settle for second.