Australian GP 15th-18th March 2007 - Race Report - Christian Marchant

Length: 5.303 km
Number of Laps: 58 (307.574 Km)
Best Lap: M. Schumacher - 1'24''215 (2004, Ferrari)
Record Pole: M. Schumacher - 1'24''408 (2004, Ferrari)
2006 Pole: J. Button - 1'25''229 (Honda)
2006 Podium: F. Alonso - K. Raikkonen - R. Schumacher

The finish driver drover a faultless race leading for 48 of the 58 laps only giving up the lead in the pit stops. His race made more incredible with his team only being able to contact him through pit board after his radio failed on the warm up lap. Raikonen also managed to pick up the triple today with the race win, pole and fastest lap. His teammate Massa raced home for 6th place in a fantastic performance that saw the Brazilian fly through the pack from 22nd on the grid using a 1stop strategy. His race saw the pass of the day getting past the Williams of Alex Wurz around the outside of turn 3.

Mclaren had a Stella day at the office with there two drivers crossing the
line in 2nd and 3rd respectively with Lewis Hamilton finishing 3rd in his
first GP ever and is the first driver in 10 years to do so in there debut
race. he also led the race for 4 laps.

BMW had a day of mixed fortunes as Nick Heidfeild finished 4th but the
second driver Robert Kubica Going out on lap 37 with a suspected gearbox failure while in 4th position. Great signs for BMW with Heidfelds pace equal to the Mclarens in his first stint of the race.

Renault also had a mixed day of fortunes with Giancarlo Fisichella coming home 5th after a great scrap with Ferrari's Felipe Massa in the dying laps. The second debutant of the day Heikki Kovalainen didn't have as fortunate day as Hamilton with the youngster making a few rookie mistakes, which included a spin going into the first corner with the Ferrari of Massa breathing down his neck.

The final points positions where filled with the Williams of Nicko Rosberg
and the Toyota of Ralph Schumacher. Both taking advantage of Kubica's DNF and the mistakes of Kovalainen

The rest of the positions where filled up with the Toyota of Truly. Renault of Kovalainen, the two Honda's of Button and Barichello, two Super Aguris, Webber, Liuzzi and Sutill.

The DNF's are as followed
Christian Albers: Accident lap 10
Scott speed: Mechanical Failure lap 30
Robert Kubica: Gearbox Failure lap 37
David Coulthard: Hit Wurzs Lap 50
Alex Wurz: hit by Coulthard Lap 50

Copyright: Christian Marchant